Roger Federer has mixed feelings about new venue of Miami Open

International Sports Desk — Swiss tennis player Roger Federer , who has played four Miami Open finals and won three, all on the old Crandon Park courts in Key Biscayne, said Tuesday that he has “mixed feelings” with this year’s move to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Federer, who arrives at the second Masters 1,000 tournament of the season seeded number four, after playing Sunday in the final of Indian Wells, which he lost to Austrian Dominic Thiem, admitted that he already feels “nostalgia” for what was in Key Biscayne.

For the first time in 31 years, the tournament has another venue built with an investment of $60 million and which already had, on the first day of the qualifying phase, about 13,000 spectators inspecting the new facilities.

“I understand all that, but I also recognize that it was a great tournament, with a lot of history,” Federer said. “We must not forget that it was considered the fifth most important tournament on the circuit, only surpassed by the four Grand Slams.”

Federer recalled that, at the old venue,he starred in matches with five unforgettable sets since he began to compete there, including his first final in 2002 which he lost in four sets to the American Andre Agassi.

“Much time has passed since I arrived at this tournament in which I had some epic battles,” said Federer, adding “I remember when I first arrived in 1998, when I won the junior title after first defeating David Nalbandian in the semifinals and then Guillermo Coria in the final in the fight for number one in the world.”

The duel against the two Argentine champions is remembered by Federer as something very “special” amongst the experiences he had on the courts of Key Biscayne.

In addition, it was the first year when the tournament took place at the Crandon Park headquarters, where he then managed to win the tournament three times, the first two consecutively (2005 and 2006) and 11 years later, in 2017.

“So clearly I have mixed feelings about the change, but I hope it’s all for the better. And I understand the logic behind this, it’s about adapting to the new times in all aspects, but of course, I’ll miss the place,” Federer said.

The Swiss, currently fifth in the ATP world rankings, admitted that it is also “logical” that all professionals are curious to see how the new experience of playing on tennis courts installed inside an American NFL football stadium will be, as the Hard Rock Stadium is, owned by the Miami Dolphins.

“What will it be like to play in an NFL stadium? I don’t know. I never played in one,” a smiling Federer said about the new location, adding “although I’m sure it’s going to be exciting.”

As for what awaits him in the tournament, Federer, who could have to play his compatriot Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals, said the most important thing is that he feels good with the adaptation to the new environment that takes place on the courts and to be recovered from the efforts made in the last tournament.

“I’m going game by game,” Federer said, “the only thing clear is that if at the end of the tournament you are the champion, means that you were better than the rest of the players.”