Miami - Day 12 Federer takes trophy

Day Twelve in the Miami Open - the last day and the ATP final

Miami Open presented by Itaú - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Hard Layklold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

John Isner (14) who defeated Alexander Zverev (4) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-

ATP final

• John Isner (7) v Roger Federer (4)

The pair had played each other seven times before, but not since 2015.  For the record, Isner had won twice, both indoors.  Federer had won all encounters on hard courts outdoors, and each of the three contests held in the US.

However, this was 2019 and Isner was a different proposition.  It was Isner the defending champion, up against the winner the year before, and overall three time victor.

Federer won the toss and chose to receive serve.  A good tactic it turns out, because the American was full of nerves, and couldn’t buy a first serve.  When he delivered an ace to save the second of two break points, it appeared as though he may slip through the Swiss net.

But no, he surrendered, and with that service break Federer began a total dismantling of Isner.

It had become virtually a hobby for Federer, in this Miami sojourn, to tear down the big servers.  He made mince meat of Kevin Anderson, sent young guns Daniil Medvedev and Denis Shapovalov (who pretend to base their games on a solid serve) crying to their mummies, and generally was enjoying his time making other players miserable.

Isner’s day was certainly less a delight by the minute - he saved two break points in the fifth game before he was beaten by a running forehand pass.

Federer led 5-1, after another love game on serve.  He won 12 of 13 points on serve in the opening set, and only 24 minutes had passed when the Swiss ace broke for a third time to clinch the lead 6-1.

Federer continued his excellent serving statistics in set two, winning 20 of 22 points on his delivery, forcing Isner to play his absolute best to keep in the contest.  He did bravely, especially considering he picked up an injury to his left foot in set one.

At 4-5, Isner, who’d not faced a break point, in fact never been taken to deuce in the set, fell behind 15-40, and lost on the second match point.

Roger Federer won the trophy 6-1 6-4