The coronavirus pandemic has halted the entire tennis season (and the sport in general) since the first days of March, with players heading back to their homes from Indian Wells as they couldn’t compete at the first Masters 1000 event of the year.
Soon after, the organizers of the Miami Open had to postpone their tournament as well, hoping to stage it the rest of 2020 but deciding to close the gates and return in March 2021. The second Masters 1000 showdown should have been staged between March 23 – April 5, moving from Crandon Park in Key Biscayne to Hard Rock Stadium in 2019 and gathering all the notable names in that first edition except Rafael Nadal who had to withdraw due to a knee injury.
Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas all lost before the quarter-final, leaving seven seeds and one qualifier in the title chase. Roger Federer toppled Kevin Anderson in 85 minutes while John Isner prevailed against Roberto Bautista Agut in two tie breaks, setting the clash against Felix Auger-Aliassime, the youngest semi-finalist in the history of the event!
The Canadian had the advantage in both sets, only to squander it and lose in two tie breaks, sending Isner into the final against Federer who stormed over Denis Shapovalov in 73 minutes after dropping only six games. In the title clash, the Swiss ousted the American to celebrate the crown and extend his record as the oldest Masters 1000 champion, beating John 6-1, 6-4 in 64 minutes for the 28th and so far the last Masters 1000 title.
Federer would have skipped Miami Open had it went on in March, undergoing knee surgery in February and planning to make a return in June in Halle before the coronavirus put everything on hold.
