Despite his defeat to Roger Federer in the gripping Miami Masters semifinal of 2017, Nick Kyrgios, the Australian tennis star, remains proud of his performance. Looking back, he encapsulated the intensity of the match, which remains one of the highlights of his career, in just two words: “Ridiculous tennis.”
The now 29-year-old Kyrgios first faced off against the Swiss maestro, a former winner of 20 Grand Slams, when he was just 21. Their clash at the 2017 Miami Masters proved to be an epic encounter that kept spectators on the edge of their seats for a grueling three hours and 15 minutes. The match ultimately ended in Federer’s favor, following three tie-breaks, with a close score of 7-6 (9), 6-7 (9), 7-6 (5).
As the 2025 Miami Open got underway this week, a fan decided to reminisce about the unforgettable Miami duel by sharing a highlight reel. Responding to this, Kyrgios simply tweeted, “Ridiculous tennis.”
In the second set of that 2017 match, Kyrgios exhibited his fighting spirit by recovering from a 3-5 deficit and saving two match points to force a deciding set. He even had a 5-4 lead in the third-set tie-break, just two points shy of victory. But Federer turned the tables by clinching the next three points.
The crushing defeat led to Kyrgios venting his frustration by smashing his racket. However, Federer, on the other hand, viewed the match as a thrilling experience. He admitted after the match, “It did feel very good, because you don’t very often play three breakers in a match. It’s nice to win those and winning breakers is always such a thrill.”
Federer also revealed that the victory held a special significance for him as he had previously lost to Kyrgios on his boys’ birthday, which was a tough pill to swallow. That made the victory even more satisfying.
The two formidable players went on to face each other four more times after Miami, with Federer emerging victorious in all encounters. This led to a 6-1 head-to-head record in favor of the Swiss player against Kyrgios. Despite the defeat, Kyrgios’s performance in the 2017 Miami Masters remains a testament to his tenacity and skill on the court.
