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Miami Open Masters 2019 Results: Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic Advance to R3

Mar 23, 2019

The 2019 Miami Open rolled on Friday with most of the fourth round being set on the men's and women's brackets. 

A star-studded field has descended on Miami for one of the biggest Masters and Premier Mandatory events of the year. Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic—the top-ranked players on the WTA and ATP, respectively—are two of the leading contenders to win. 

Both players will have hurdles standing in their way of a title. Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep are among the top women's players competing. Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev and Kevin Anderson are among the men's players who will attempt to spoil Djokovic's party. 

Here are the scores from Friday's matches and notable results, via MiamiOpen.com:

     

Men's Results

No. 1 Novak Djokovic def. Bernard Tomic: 7-6(2), 6-2

Hubert Hurkacz def. No. 3 Dominic Thiem: 6-4, 6-4

Dusan Lajovic def. No. 5 Kei Nishikori: 2-6, 6-2, 6-3

No. 7 John Isner def. Lorenzo Sonego: 7-6, 7-6

No. 11 Borna Coric def. Roberto Carballes Baena: 7-6(7), 0-6, 6-2

No. 12 Milos Raonic def. Maximilian Marterer: Walkover

No. 15 Fabio Fognini def. Guido Andreozzi: 5-7, 6-4, 6-4

No. 17 Nikoloz Basilashvili def. Mischa Zverev: 6-3, 6-2

No. 19 Kyle Edmund def. Ilya Ivashka: 6-3, 6-2

No. 22 Roberto Bautista Agut def. Janko Tipsarevic: 7-6(3), 6-4

Jeremy Chardy def. No. 23 Gilles Simon: 6-4, 6-2

Albert Ramos-Vinolas def. No. 25 Lucas Pouille: 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

No. 27 Nick Kyrgios def. Alexander Bublik: 7-5, 6-3

Felix Auger-Aliassime def. No. 29 Marton Fucsovics: 6-4, 4-6, 6-0

Federico Delbonis def. No. 32 John Millman: 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(2)

     

Women's Results

No. 1 Naomi Osaka def. Yanina Wickmayer: 6-0, (3)6-7, 6-1

No. 2 Simona Halep def. Taylor Townsend: 6-1, 6-3

No. 4 Sloane Stephens def. Ons Jabeur: 6-2, 6-3

No. 5 Karolina Pliskova def. Petra Martic: 6-3, 6-4

Yafan Wang def. No. 6 Elina Svitolina: 6-2, 6-4

Lara Arruabarrena def. No. 7 Andreja Klepac: 6-2, 7-5

No. 8 Angelique Kerber def. Karolina Muchova: 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

Ajla Tomljanovic def. No. 9 Aryna Sabalenka: 6-3, 6-4

No. 10 Serena Williams def. Rebecca Peterson: 6-3, 1-6, 6-1

No. 11 Anastasija Sevastova def. Katerina Siniakova: 6-2, 0-6, 6-4

Viktoria Kuzmova def. No. 12 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova: 6-7, 6-4, 7-5

No. 13 Caroline Wozniacki def. Aliaksandra Sasnovich: 6-4, 6-4

No. 14 Daria Kasatkina def. Cori Gauff: 6-3, 6-2

No. 16 Elise Mertens def. Pauline Parmentier: 6-2, 7-5

No. 18 Qiang Wang def. Johanna Konta: 6-4, 6-0

Monica Niculescu def. No. 20 Garbine Muguruza: 7-6, 4-6, 6-2

No. 21 Anett Kontaveit def. Amanda Anisimova: 6-3, 1-6, 6-4

Marketa Vondrousova def. No. 22 Jelena Ostapenko: 7-5, 6-1

Yulia Putintseva def. No. 23 Belinda Bencic: 6-3, 7-5

Venus Williams def. No. 24 Carla Suarez Navarro: 7-6, 6-1

No. 25 Danielle Collins def. Whitney Osuigwe: 7-6(5), 6-0

No. 27 Su-Wei Hsieh def. Alison Riske: 6-2, 7-5

Tatjana Maria def. No. 29 Camila Giorgi: 6-3, 6-4

Alize Cornet def. No. 30 Mihaela Buzarnescu: 7-6 (9-7), 6-1

Viktoria Kuzmova def. No. 31 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova: (5)6-7, 6-4, 7-5

Bianca Andreescu def. No. 32 Sofia Kenin: 6-3, 6-3

Aleksandra Krunic def. Lauren Davis: 6-2, 6-2

Darija Jurak def. Desirae Krawczyk: 3-6, 6-3, 10-3

Shuko Aoyama def. Miyu Kato: 6-3, 6-4

Polona Hercog def. Misaki Doi: 7-6(4), 6-4

     

Notable Results

Two weeks after an illness forced her to retire from a third-round match at the BNP Paribas Open, Williams made a successful comeback by defeating Rebecca Peterson in three sets. 

There were signs throughout the match Williams is still trying to find her groove on the court. She managed just four aces in three sets and allowed Peterson to convert 67 percent of her break-point opportunities. 

Williams has endured her struggles at this event since last winning in 2014. The 23-time Grand Slam champion was upset by a then-unranked Osaka last year in the first round and hasn't made it past the fourth round since 2015. 

The men's side of the bracket was shaken up with two top-five seeds falling in their first singles matches of the tournament. 

One men's player who didn't have an issue was Djokovic. The six-time Miami Open champion needed just 74 minutes to send Bernard Tomic home. 

The match also featured an extended 24-hit rally in the first set that Djokovic was eventually able to win with a perfectly-placed forehand:

Djokovic has had a light schedule to start this season. The Miami Open is just his fourth event of 2019, with his lone win coming at the Australian Open. He hasn't won this tournament in three years, but the early returns look promising for a deep run.

The season-long struggles continued for Kei Nishikori following his upset loss against unranked Dusan Lajovic Friday. 

Since starting the 2019 season reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals and Amro World Tennis Tournament semifinals, the Japanese star has failed to make it past the third round in each of his last three tournaments. 

Even when Nishikori has won this season, it's been a struggle for him to put opponents away:

Nishikori started well with an easy 6-2 first-set win over Lajovic, but those good feelings quickly faded. His serve was broken three times in the second set. The 29-year-old never regained his footing, losing before the fourth round in this event for the second consecutive year. 

Third-ranked Dominic Thiem was taken down by Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. 

One potential explanation for Thiem's disappointing turn is it came just five days after he finished off a victory at Indian Wells where he defeated Federer in three sets. 

Hurkacz, 22, is on the best run of his ATP Tour career. He defeated three ranked opponents at Indian Wells last week before losing to Federer in the quarterfinals. Thiem is the second top-five player the Poland native has beaten along with Nishikori at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. 

Osaka advanced to the third round with a baffling performance against Yanina Wickmayer. The top seed lost one game total in the two sets she won, but Wickmayer came alive to win the second set in a tiebreaker. 

After dropping the second set, Osaka breezed through the third set and claimed the win on an unforced error from Wickmayer:

Osaka is trying to find the form that helped her win the Australian Open. She followed that victory by losing her first match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and lost in the fourth round at the BNP Paribas Open. 

Even with that mid-match hiccup, Osaka looked to be in peak form at various points. She had a 14-9 edge in aces and saved 83 percent of break points against Wickmayer. 

Miami Open Masters 2019 Prize Money: Complete Purse and Earnings Info

Mar 21, 2019
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a forehand against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany on March 12, 2019, in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a forehand against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany on March 12, 2019, in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

A selection of the world's elite tennis players will flock to Florida this week, as the 2019 Miami Masters gets under way.

In the men's draw, top seed Novak Djokovic will be seeking to win this prize for the seventh time and be desperate to bounce back after a shock loss to Philipp Kohlschreiber at Indian Wells recently. Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev will provide stiff competition.

While Djokovic remains a heavy favourite in the men's draw, the women's bracket is wide open. A number of quality players are in serious contention for the title, including Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep; all have struggled to find consistency in 2019 so far, though.

Here are the prize-money details for this event and a rundown of the players poised to be in the hunt for the top honours.

       

ATP and WTA Prize Money

Winner: $1,354,010 (£1,020,000)

Runner-Up: $686,000 (£516,818)

Semi-Final: $354,000 (£266,700)

Quarter-Final: $182,000 (£137,120)

  

For the full purse details, visit the WTA website.

   

Preview

Djokovic has saved his best performances for Grand Slams of late, with his showing against Kohlschreiber in his previous outing evidence of that. 

The world No. 1 had enjoyed some time away from the court prior to his appearance at Indian Wells following his success at the Australian Open. The crowds in Miami should see a much sharper Djokovic as a result.

Although his tournament came to an unexpectedly early end, Djokovic did at least get to hang out with some illustrious company at Indian Wells and tried out some new moves in the process:

The man who capitalised on Djokovic's early exit in the previous tournament was Thiem, as he beat Federer in the final.

The Austrian would have been delighted with the manner of his performances, and with the French Open edging closer—he's a clay-court specialist—Thiem will feel recent displays on hard courts bode well for the summer.

Per Christopher Clarey of the New York Times, the Austrian was keeping his feet on the ground after his success over Federer:

As for Federer, David Law of BBC Radio 5 live commented on how relaxed he is looking:

https://twitter.com/DavidLawTennis/status/1107453598890450944

The women's bracket has the potential to be thrilling, especially after the stunning win for Bianca Andreescu at Indian Wells.

The 18-year-old shocked the rest of the field, beating big names like Garbine Muguruza, Elina Svitolina and Angelique Kerber on her way to glory. The Canadian begins her quest for another success in Round 1 against Irina-Camelia Begu.

Sportsnet's Caroline Cameron outlined just how significant the teenager's triumph was:

Afterwards, Andreescu found it difficult to contain her excitement at what was the biggest success of her career:

Osaka, the Australian Open and U.S. Open champion, goes into the competition as the top seed. Following early exits at the Dubai Tennis Championship and Indian Wells, the world No. 1 needs to build confidence ahead of a busy summer.

Halep and Williams will also be looking to get their biggest wins of the year on the board. Defending champion Sloane Stephens will hope memories of her 2018 win in this event can spark some form, as she's been on a rotten run so far this season.

Indian Wells Tennis Finals 2019: Dominic Thiem, Bianca Andreescu Win Event

Mar 17, 2019
Dominic Thiem, of Austria, celebrates after defeating Roger Federer, of Switzerland, in the men's final at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, March 17, 2019, in Indian Wells, Calif. Thiem won 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dominic Thiem, of Austria, celebrates after defeating Roger Federer, of Switzerland, in the men's final at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, March 17, 2019, in Indian Wells, Calif. Thiem won 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The finals at the 2019 BNP Paribas Open each crowned first-time winners.

One was a man who entered among the favorites to take home the trophy but was facing a living legend. 

The other was a woman who had to qualify to get into the event.

Here's a look at how Dominic Thiem and Bianca Andreescu overcame the odds to win at Indian Wells. 

            

Thiem Comes Back, Beats Federer

It turns out an extra day of rest wasn't enough to give Roger Federer the gas to get past Dominic Thiem.

The Austrian came back from a set down, scoring a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 triumph over Federer. It's Thiem's first victory in an ATP Masters 1000 tournament—he's lost in the Madrid Open final each of the last two years—and his 12th title overall.

"I was a little nervous to serve it out," Thiem said on the court after the match. "It's been a pleasure to play against one of the greatest of all time."

Thiem has now won three of his last four matches against Federer, who was looking for his sixth championship at Indian Wells. Federer has lost in the finals each of the last two years.

"Thank you very much. It's been a great week for me even though it didn't work out today," Federer said. "What a great week Dominic has had, congratulations. Wonderful playing at the very end there; you deserve it."

Federer entered the final round on a day's rest after Rafael Nadal was forced to pull out of their semifinal matchup because of injury. The match would have been the first between the two rivals since the 2017 Shanghai Masters. Federer came in as a heavy favorite, thanks in part because of his history on the court and getting the extra rest. 

Instead, it was a crowning achievement for Thiem, who couldn't help but get caught up in the moment. 

"It's unreal," Thiem said, per Jose Morgado of Record. "I had to get used to Roger's game. He was playing amazing in the first set, but I fought into the match after getting a bit lucky in the start of the second set."

            

Bianca Andreescu Caps Cinderella Run With Title

Bianca Andreescu's life just changed.

The 18-year-old Canadian finished off her whirlwind week Sunday, earning a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over Angelique Kerber to take home her first career WTA championship. 

Andreescu is the first qualifier to win at Indian Wells, and she is the third-youngest woman to ever win the event. The two women ahead of her, Martina Hingis and Serena Williams, are pretty good company to keep.

"Hopefully this moment can be a great inspiration for many young athletes because, like I always say, if you believe in yourself, anything is possible," Andreescu said in her on-court interview. "And like my mom always told me through the years, if you work hard, you dream big to get big, then you can accomplish so many things.

"That's what I've been doing throughout many years, and now this moment has become a reality, so it's really, really crazy."

Andreescu has been one of the hottest women on the circuit this season, posting a 28-3 record and ascending to the No. 24 ranking in the world. She previously reached the final at the Auckland Open, where she lost to Julia Gorges.

Given the opportunity in her second final, Andreescu showed resilience of someone much older than 18. She won three straight games in the third set after trailing 3-2 down a break, then won the tournament by breaking Kerber once again.

Andreescu had made around $350,000 in her career before Sunday. Her victory sent her home with a check of $1.35 million.

Not bad for one of the biggest rising stars in tennis.

Dominic Thiem Stuns Roger Federer in 3 Sets to Win 2019 Indian Wells Title

Mar 17, 2019

Dominic Thiem upset Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the final of the 2019 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California, to earn his first title of the ATP Tour season.

This is the second year in which Federer lost in the final at Indian Wells. Juan Martin del Potro topped him in three sets in 2018.

The victory gives Thiem a 3-2 head-to-head advantage over Federer. Both players will now turn their focus toward the Miami Open, which begins Monday.

"It's unreal," Thiem said of his win in his post-match interview, per Jose Morgado of Portuguese paper Record. "I had to get used to Roger's game. He was playing amazing in the first set, but I fought into the match after getting a bit lucky in the start of the second set."

The first two sets were mirror images of one another.

Federer broke Thiem's serve in the second game of the match and opened up a 4-1 lead. Thiem broke back in the seventh game to trail 3-4, but Federer responded immediately with another service break and held serve in the ninth game to win the set.

Thiem didn't dwell on his slow start. He broke Federer in the fourth game of the second set and built up a 4-1 lead of his own. That one service break proved to be the difference in the set.

Thiem was particularly effective on his backhand side. When he had time to measure up the shot, his backhand down the line was almost untouchable.

Thiem's confidence grew the longer the match went on. Along with that, he started throwing more power behind his groundstrokes. Although Federer remained sharp as ever, Thiem was striking the ball on a different level.

https://twitter.com/tumcarayol/status/1107447326195499009

Federer attempted to counteract Thiem's baseline game by rushing the net when he could in order to cut down on the angles available to the Austrian. The strategy was successful for the most part, but Federer might have outthought himself when serving with the set tied 5-5.

Leading 30-15, Federer tried to lure Thiem to the net with drop shots on back-to-back points. On each occasion, Thiem sprinted up and pulled a rabbit out of his hat with a winner.

The momentum of the match turned completely, and Thiem won four of the next five points to secure the win.

Calling Sunday's win a breakthrough for Thiem might be a stretch. He was the runner-up in the 2018 French Open and a semifinalist in 2016 and 2017. This is, however, his first ATP Tour Masters 1000 win.

The 25-year-old went toe-to-toe with one of the most legendary players in tennis history and was the last man standing. This wasn't a case of Federer throwing the match away, either. To some extent, the back-to-back drop shots illustrated how desperate he was to get the edge on Thiem after little else was working.

The Miami Open gives Thiem an opportunity to continue building some momentum before the clay-court season gets underway.

Indian Wells Tennis 2019: TV Schedule, Live Stream and Finals Predictions

Mar 17, 2019
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Roger Federer of Switzerland plays Hubert Hurkacz of Poland during the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2019 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Roger Federer of Switzerland plays Hubert Hurkacz of Poland during the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2019 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The 2019 Indian Wells tournament will conclude with both the men's and women's finals on Sunday. Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem will battle following the conclusion of the contest between Angelique Kerber and Bianca Andreescu.

ESPN 2 and the Tennis Channel will provide full TV broadcasts for American fans, while Amazon will do the same in the UK. Live-streaming options can be found on Tennis TV and Amazon Prime.

The first match of the day will start at 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT.

   

Federer received a bye into the final after Rafael Nadal pulled out of their semi-final clash, and he will take on a surging Thiem who has given the veteran plenty of challenges in the past.

Sports writer Nick McCarvel shared how the 37-year-old responded to the news of Nadal's exit:

Thiem and Federer have faced each other four times, with both men winning two contests. The Austrian has never beaten Federer on a hard court but has made massive strides on the surface.

He impressed in his semi-final win over Milos Raonic to qualify for his first Masters 1000 final, thanks in large part to his spectacular play in the rallies. Thiem barely hit unforced errors, making Raonic chase the ball for large stretches of the contest.

His sudden great form comes as something of a surprise:

The 25-year-old has built something of a reputation as a clay specialist in recent years, but his game has translated well to the slower courts at Indian Wells. Federer has mastered these courts like few others, however, winning five titles.

He should also have the fresher legs despite being the older man, as Thiem had to dig deep against Raonic.

In the women's final, Kerber will face an unlikely obstacle on the path to her biggest title since last year's Wimbledon tournament, as she takes on qualifier Andreescu.

The 18-year-old rising star upset Elina Svitolina in the semi-finals, continuing what has been an incredible season:

The teenager has become a fan favourite in short time and should have the backing of the crowd for the final. Her win over Svitolina was a gritty one, but she will face an even greater challenge from Kerber.

The German worked her way past Belinda Bencic by doing what she does best: dominating from the base line. Her raw power in the rallies is major weapon, but Andreescu could counter with great all-around play, as tennis writer Christopher Clarey explained:

Kerber has the clear edge in experience and has a tendency to step up her game on the biggest stage, winning three of four career Grand Slam finals.

Predictions: Federer and Kerber pull through and overwhelm their respective opponents.

Indian Wells Tennis 2019: Men's Final Schedule and Predictions After Semifinals

Mar 16, 2019
Dominic Thiem, of Austria, celebrates winning a game against Milos Raonic, of Canada, during their semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 16, 2019, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dominic Thiem, of Austria, celebrates winning a game against Milos Raonic, of Canada, during their semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 16, 2019, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

A rested Roger Federer will have a chance to win his sixth Indian Wells title when he faces Dominic Thiem in the championship match of the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday.

Federer is well-rested because he had a walkover in the semifinal match, as longtime rival Rafael Nadal was unable to play because of a knee problem that flared up.

In the other semifinal, Thiem went all out to beat Milos Raonic in the semifinal, recording a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-4 victory.

Thiem was dominant on his serve, winning all of his games, and he managed to break Raonic in the final set. Raonic nearly pulled out the final game, would have squared the third set, but Thiem used his quickness on the court to run around Raonic's returns and unleash his powerful forehand.

Nadal had knee issues during his quarterfinal-round 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) victory over Karen Khachanov. He had called for the trainer twice in the second set, and when he spoke about his knee following the match, he mentioned that he hoped it would allow him to play against Federer.

Instead, Nadal knew something was wrong when he attempted to warm up Saturday morning. "I warmed up today, and I felt that my knee was not good to compete at the level I needed to compete in [the] semifinals," Nadal said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com).

Federer and Nadal were about to engage in their 39th match, with Nadal holding a 23-15 lead. Neither player had lost a set in any of their earlier matches in the tournament, but Nadal just was not healthy enough to compete against his longtime rival.

Nadal will also miss the upcoming Miami Open as a result of the injury. He will not return to action before the Monte Carlo Masters on clay in mid-April. Clay has long been Nadal's preferred surface.

Federer commented on Nadal's withdrawal. Despite the deficit in their head-to-head matches, he had won his previous five matches against the Spaniard.

"I'm just going to keep going, and I'm just going to keep doing the things that work well for me and accepting that sometimes these issues can happen," Federer said, per Richard Osborn of BNPParibasOpen.com. "So all the things that are in my hands I am doing well. The things that I can't control, I can't control."

Federer and Thiem will meet in the championship match Sunday evening. The men's championship will commence about 30 minutes after the women's title match between Angelique Kerber and Bianca Andreescu comes to its conclusion.

The women's match will begin at 4 p.m. ET, and ESPN2 will televise both matches.

Thiem, 25, should be fairly confident as he meets the legendary 37-year-old Federer. The two men have split four previous matches, with Thiem winning two of three matches in 2016, while Federer won their matchup in 2018.

"I will be playing probably the best player ever," Thiem said in an on-court interview with Mary Jo Fernandez of ESPN. "He's in really good form, and I'll do everything I can to stop him."

Both of Federer's victories were in straight sets, while Thiem was pushed to three sets in one of his victories.

Federer has 100 career tournament titles in his career, while Thiem has 11.

     

Prediction

Federer is in top form at Indian Wells, and he received a great break in not having to compete against Nadal.

He might have beaten his great rival or he could have lost, but either way, Federer would have had to work for close to three hours in the hot California sun.

No matter how disappointed the fans are for missing out on a potential classic match, not having to play allows Federer the rest needed to be at his best when the championship is on the line.

Thiem is a solid opponent with tremendous quickness and a clever game plan, but beating Raonic is one thing, and beating Federer is quite another.

Especially when Federer is healthy, rested and very close to the top of his game. Look for Federer to beat Thiem, quite possibly in straight sets.

Rafael Nadal Out of Indian Wells With Knee Injury; Roger Federer in Final

Mar 16, 2019
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays Karen Khachanov of Russia during the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2019 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays Karen Khachanov of Russia during the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2019 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Roger Federer is in the final of the 2019 Indian Wells Masters after Rafael Nadal pulled out of the tournament ahead of the pair's star-studded semi-final in California on Saturday.

Nadal suffered the problem during Friday's straight-sets win over Karen Khachanov in the last eight. He had his knee taped but played on in a match that required winning both sets on tiebreaks, 7-6(2), 7-6(2).

Federer will now await the winner of Dominic Thiem's meeting with Milos Raonic later Saturday. The 37-year-old will now be considered the favourite to win this title for a sixth time.

It would be a record haul, with Federer currently level on Novak Djokovic on five wins.

Nadal would have fancied his chances of denying Federer history ahead of schedule. However, the Spaniard didn't feel confident his knee would hold up:

His decision is a prudent one, but it has denied fans the chance to witness the 39th meeting between these two storied rivals. They have produced some of the most memorable matches in tennis history, including the epic 2008 Wimbledon final, as well as the signature match to decide the outcome of the Australian Open two years ago.

While Federer is still going strong, Nadal is beginning to look vulnerable as his body fails him.

Persistent injuries limited him to complete "just one hard-court tournament in 2018," per BBC Sport. The same source noted how Nadal retired during that year's Australian Open quarter-final and the last four of the U.S. Open.

One more setback must raise doubts about the ability of one of the sport's greatest-ever players to continue competing at its highest levels.

Indian Wells Tennis 2019 Results: Women's Final and Men's Semifinals Preview

Mar 16, 2019
Roger Federer, of Switzerland, serves to Hubert Hurkacz, of Poland, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, March 15, 2019, in Indian Wells, Calif. Federer won 6-4, 6-4. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Roger Federer, of Switzerland, serves to Hubert Hurkacz, of Poland, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, March 15, 2019, in Indian Wells, Calif. Federer won 6-4, 6-4. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The last two years has seen a change in women's tennis. The sport that was dominated by Serena Williams has seen a slew of players emerge and win championships.

The game has grown incredibly competitive, with relatively unknown players emerging from the shadows to climb the ladder and win or contend in tournaments. 

However, the BNP Paribas Open has taken it a step further. Bianca Andreescu, the 18-year-old Canadian, made it to the championship round as she defeated Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the semifinal round at Indian Wells, California.

Bianca Andreescu has risen from wild-card status to reach the final round at Indian Wells.
Bianca Andreescu has risen from wild-card status to reach the final round at Indian Wells.

Andreescu was ranked 60th when the tournament started, but she ran through higher-seeded opponents including Dominika Cibulkova, Qiang Wang and Garbine Muguruza before her hard-fought victory over Svitolina. 

The match was statistically even, and the only area where Andreescu was able to gain a key edge was in break-point percentage. Andreescu won 50 percent of her break points (6-of-12), while Svitolina was successful 32 percent of the time (6-of-19).

There is no way any opponent should take Andreescu lightly at this point because she defeated Muguruza 6-0, 6-1.

Andreescu will play Angelique Kerber, who defeated Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-2 in the other late-night semifinal.

"I knew I was playing a very tough player, and I had to be at my best to beat her," Kerber said after the match to ESPN interviewer Mary Jo Fernandez. "I was trying to concentrate on every point and going for it when I had the chance."

Those two will play in the championship match Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, and it will be televised by ESPN2.

Kerber said she is looking forward to the final but knows she is playing a dangerous opponent: "She came in as a wild card and she has beaten quite a few dangerous opponents. She is playing with nothing to lose, and it will be a challenge."

While the women have gotten through the semifinal round, the men will play their semifinals Saturday (ABC, 3 p.m. ET).

The first semifinal features seventh-seeded Dominic Thiem meeting 13th-seeded Milos Raonic, and the second semi features one of the sport's classic rivalries as fourth-seeded Roger Federer will meet No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt3wRckmTFs

Both Federer and Nadal won their quarterfinal matches in straight sets. Federer had a relatively easy time as he defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-4 while Nadal got by Karen Khachanov 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2).

Federer and Nadal will meet for the 39th time in their legendary careers. Federer is hoping to win his sixth championship at Indian Wells, but he has to get by his old rival before he gets to the championship round.

Nadal was battling through right knee pain during his win over Khachanov. "My goal and my idea is to be ready for tomorrow," Nadal said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "I cannot guarantee how I'm going to wake up tomorrow morning."

Federer trails Nadal in their all-time rivalry by a 23-15 margin, but he has won five matches in a row against Nadal.

Raonic advanced to the semifinal round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Miomir Kecmanovic, while Thiem won in a walkover against Gael Monfils. The French player could not compete as a result of an Achilles injury.

Raonic had 13 aces in his win over Kecmanovic, and he did not have a double fault. However, Raonic was not happy with his serving, even though he won 88 percent of his first-service points.

"Even when I was hitting the spots, I wasn't hitting them that well," Raonic said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "I think that can get better."

Rafael Nadal Beats Karen Khachanov, Will Face Roger Federer in Indian Wells SF

Mar 15, 2019
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, keeps his eyes on the ball as he hits a return to Karen Khachanov, of Russia, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, March 15, 2019, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, keeps his eyes on the ball as he hits a return to Karen Khachanov, of Russia, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, March 15, 2019, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Rafael Nadal will face Roger Federer in the semi-final of the 2019 Indian Wells Masters after beating Karen Khachanov 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) in the last eight in California on Friday.

Nadal overcame a knee problem to outlast an opponent 10 years his junior whose game gave him trouble across two marathon-length sets.

The Spaniard, who has won this tournament three times previously, will attempt to stop Federer's bid to capture a record sixth title when the two resume their rivalry Saturday.

Khachanov raced into a 2-0 lead in the opening set thanks largely to breaking Nadal's serve.

A Nadal hold got the Spaniard back in the set, albeit not without a few more problems for the 32-year-old:

Both players stayed strong on serve to forge a 3-3 tie. They each also worked well at the net, trading a series of quality backhands and slyly improvised hits.

The similarities in the form and range of shots of both players was not lost on Christopher Clarey of the New York Times:

Things continued in like-for-like fashion as a break from Khachanov evened the set at four games apiece. Nadal served to 5-4 and had seemed to have Khachanov reeling for the first time.

It was time for Nadal to turn on the style:

A double-fault appeared to wreck Kahachanov's chances to hold with the set at stake. The Russian eventually stood firm, though, something both men repeated as the set inched toward what felt like an inevitable tiebreak.

Nadal survived it to put himself in a commanding position, even if Khachanov had proved he wasn't going to make it easy for his decorated opponent.

It was 2-2 in the second set after Nadal needed the trainer to tape his right knee.

Nadal tried to seize control of the set by earning a break point, but Khachanov responded in kind for 3-3. The 22-year-old was now the one applying the pressure, with Nadal being forced to save several break points to even things at 5-5.

Despite being hobbled, Nadal clung onto his serve to push the set to another tiebreak. The illustrious veteran dominated the tiebreak, setting up four match points before getting over the line to complete a gutsy and clutch display.

Roger Federer Cruises Past Hubert Hurkacz, Advances to Indian Wells Semifinals

Mar 15, 2019
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates against Kyle Edmund of Great Britain on March 13, 2019 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates against Kyle Edmund of Great Britain on March 13, 2019 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

Roger Federer cruised past Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets to book his place in the semi-finals of the 2019 BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California on Friday.

The fourth seed needed just a single break in each set to clinch a 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour and 13 minutes.

Federer's win sets up a potential semi-final against second seed Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard takes on Russia's Karen Khachanov in their quarter-final on Friday.

Hurkacz made a solid start against the former world No. 1 and was not afraid to try and dictate the play:

However, Federer earned his first break points at 2-2 and quickly converted as his opponent pushed a forehand wide.

The break was then consolidated as Federer raced into a 5-3 lead, with Hurkacz struggling to make an impression on the Swiss star's serve:

Hurkacz did make Federer work to serve out the first set. He took the former champion to deuce, but a powerful forehand from the fourth seed and a mistake from the Pole handed the 37-year-old the opening set.

Journalist Jose Morgado noted Federer's dominance on serve:

The Pole suffered a shaky start to the second set and went down 0-30 before a wild Federer error handed the initiative back to the 22-year-old who managed to hold.

However, the errors continued to flow from the youngster. An overhit forehand and another into the net handed Federer an early break in the second set and a 2-1 lead.

The two players then produced some exciting tennis that entertained the crowd as Hurkacz tried to break straight back:

Hurkacz earned his first break point of the match at 2-3, but a wicked forehand crosscourt from Federer took the game to deuce. Federer then took control with another forehand winner and an ace to maintain his advantage.

Federer pushed hard for a double break towards the end of the second set, but Hurkacz managed to dig in and force the 37-year-old to serve it out.

The youngster then went on to force another break point in the final game, but a forehand sent just wide and a Federer winner were enough to claim a landmark victory:

Federer is still yet to drop a set in the tournament so far as he advances to his 12th semi-final at Indian Wells.

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