Federer suffers fresh setback with Miami withdrawal

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a shot during a practice session during the Miami Open on Mar 24, 2016 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo: AFP/Clive Brunskill)

MIAMI: Roger Federer must wait to test his surgically repaired left knee under match conditions after withdrawing from the ATP and WTA Miami Open on Friday (Mar 25) with a stomach illness.

Only hours before his scheduled return from a two-month layoff, the 34-year-old Swiss star pulled out, missing the hardcourt event for the third time in four years. He won at Miami in 2005 and 2006 but has not reached the final since.

"I am very sorry that I have to pull out of the Miami Open with a stomach virus," said Federer. "I feel bad for the tournament and the fans as I have rarely ever had to withdraw at such short notice.

"I have not felt great for a few days and unfortunately it got worse in the last 24 hours. I was really excited to have my comeback in Miami but I am in no condition to play. I tried to warm up this morning but it was clear that I could not compete."

World number three Federer has not played since losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals two months ago. The next morning, Federer suffered a torn meniscus while preparing to bathe his children.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion said he had not expected to be ready in time to play at Miami but recovered well from the operation and was excited for the opportunity.

"Sorry for him, sorry for the tournament, sorry for the fans," said long-time Federer rival Rafael Nadal when told the news. "It's good it's a stomach problem and not the knee, so it's not a big deal."

PAINED DEL POTRO EXITS

Federer was replaced by 58th-ranked lucky loser Horacio Zeballos, who made the most of his chance by defeating Argentine compatriot Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4, 6-4.

"I was sitting in the locker room playing chess and watching others playing when they told us the news. I was really happy," said Zeballos. "I was so relaxed. I played great. I knew I was playing Juan Martin and he had more pressure than me so I played relaxed."

It was only the third event for 366th-rated Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, in his comeback following left wrist surgery last year and he struggled with pain.

"I was suffering a little bit," Del Potro said. "It was worse than my first match but I hope nothing dangerous. "I said before this is a long road to get better and play tennis again. For me, it's like a surprise when I win a match. I'm trying to deal with the pain. I'm suffering but I'm playing tennis and that's good."

KERBER, MUGURUZA ADVANCE

Reigning Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber and Spanish fourth seed Garbine Muguruza, last year's Wimbledon runner-up, advanced to the third round in different fashions.

Angelique Kerber plays a backhand against Barbora Strycova in their second round match during the Miami Open. (Photo: AFP/Clive Brunskill)

German second seed Kerber cruised past Czech Barbora Strycova 6-1, 6-1 while Muguruza battled for two hours and 45 minutes before subduing Slovakia's 54th-ranked Dominika Cibulkova 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 7-5.

Kerber raced through the first set in 32 minutes, firing 10 winners and aided by 15 unforced errors from Strycova, then broke three times in the second set, the last at love to end matters after only 63 minutes.

"I was trying to be focused, just playing my game," Kerber said. "First matches can be tricky."

Next up for Kerber, whose best Miami showing was a 2014 quarter-final run, is 108th-ranked Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens.

Muguruza blasted the last of her 46 winners with a forehand on match point and also had 12 aces in booking a third-round date with US wildcard Nicole Gibbs.

Spanish sixth seed Carla Suarez Navarro was ousted by American CoCo Vandeweghe 6-4, 6-2 while Swiss seventh seed Belinda Bencic retired with a lower back injury after falling behind 4-1 to Czech Kristyna Pliskova.

Two rising Japanese standouts pulled upsets to reach the third round as 124th-ranked qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka, 20, downed Spanish 21st seed Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4 while 104th-ranked, 18-year-old wildcard Naomi Osaka ousted Italian 14th seed Sara Errani 6-1, 6-3.

Nishioka next faces Austrian 14th seed Dominic Thiem while Osaka will meet Hungary's 49th-ranked Timea Babos.

Former world number one Jelena Jankovic retired with a right shoulder injury after dropping the first game to Polish qualifier Magda Linette.

Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych advanced to the third round by walkover when American Rajeev Ram withdrew due to illness.