Just about a week back, after cruising past Mackenzie McDonald in his first-round match at the 2025 Miami Open, Nick Kyrgios took a nostalgic trip down memory lane. He reshared a clip on X of his unforgettable 2017 Miami Open SF clash against Roger Federer, calling it: “Ridiculous tennis.” And, he isn’t alone in holding that opinion. The momentous contest remains acclaimed as a high point in the sport in the past decade. It was a display of extraordinary talent, dynamic rallies, and gripping tie-breaks. And, Kyrgios is still not over it, as he once again relives the magic of that night. What was so special about the match?
Under the Miami lights in 2017, the former 13th-ranked Nick Kyrgios and Roger Federer delivered an absolute thriller: a match that is still talked about as one of the greatest battles the sport has ever seen. The Aussie struck first, breaking the Swiss maestro’s serve and racing to a 5-3 lead in the first set. But the Swiss maestro was never going to crumble that easily! He broke back, forcing the first set into a tense tie-break. Both men had set points, but it was Federer who edged ahead, clinching the set 11-9 after saving 3 set points in the tie-breaker.
But the drama didn’t stop there. The second set remained airtight, with neither player dropping serve at all. In the second set tie-break, Kyrgios held his nerve, saving two match points and snatching the set to level the contest. The third was no different: a battle of wills that once again reached a tie-break without a single break of serve. The Aussie led 5-4, but Federer, ever the magician under pressure, snatched the final three points to seal a 7-6(9), 6-7(9), 7-6(5) classic. Eight years have passed by, and Federer has already retired, but this match remains vivid in Nick’s memory. He recently reflected on its intensity again.
Just a while back, an IG page named Tennis Legend reignited tennis nostalgia by sharing the electrifying highlights of the 2017 Miami Open showdown between Kyrgios and Federer. The caption read, “Eight years ago, @rogerfederer and @k1ngkyrg1os played a masterpiece in the semi-finals of the @miamiopen 2017. What a match!” Both players were tagged in the post along with the ATP Tour and Tennis TV.
It took no time for the post to go viral. Kyrgios himself couldn’t resist as he re-shared the clip on his own IG story, taking fans back to that unforgettable night when two tennis gladiators went toe-to-toe in one of the sport’s most intense battles.
The backdrop for that match was perfect! Federer, fresh off ending his GS drought by winning the AO and claiming the Indian Wells title, was in blistering form. Kyrgios, the fearless Aussie on the flipside, was riding high after solid performances in Marseille and Acapulco. That Miami duel marked their third meeting, with the H2H leveled 1-1. But after that epic clash, Federer never let Kyrgios get past him again, closing their H2H rivalry at 6-1.
While Federer walked into the sunset in 2022, Kyrgios is still active. However, the Aussie hasn’t been able to play frequently enough, owing to injury struggles. Recently, he admitted that injuries and mental hurdles in the last couple of years made him think he might never return to the court again.
Nick Kyrgios talks about his potential retirement plans because of the wrist injury
After going under the knife for a full wrist reconstruction two years ago, Kyrgios’ dream of returning to the court felt like chasing shadows. At the start of 2025, Nick hoped for a fairytale comeback, but he crashed out early in the Brisbane Open and faced first-round heartbreak at the Australian Open. The demons lingered in the BNP Paribas Open too, where a mid-match withdrawal against Botic Van de Zandschulp only deepened the doubts swirling around his future!
But in Miami, the storm seemed to settle. Kyrgios finally broke the chains of frustration with a gritty first-round win over Mackenzie McDonald. In his post-game interview, the Australian player candidly discussed his surgical procedures, periods of insomnia, and the significant doubt he harbored about competing at the highest level ever again.
“It’s been a long journey. Even to just get to the start line of matches and be scared to even finish them, but to come off and get a win and then feel like I belong again is pretty special. I thought I would never play tennis again, to be brutally honest, and it was going that way. I’ve had conversations with my camp, my team, guys who are leaving their families to come here and help me get to the court … I was like ‘look, I don’t know how long I can keep doing this for. This puts a bit more petrol in the tank, but I need to be realistic, I’ll see how my wrist pulls up tomorrow,” the Aussie stated.
Despite that hard-fought victory in the first round, Nick couldn’t carry the momentum forward, falling to Russia’s Karen Khachanov in straight sets in the very next round. But the big question now is: will we see the fiery Aussie roar back to life on the red clay in the upcoming tournaments? What do you think?
The post Time Rewinds as Nick Kyrgios Reflects on His Iconic Miami Open Face-Off Against Roger Federer appeared first on EssentiallySports.
