Roger Federer avoids Miami Open upset, but there will be no Stan Wawrinka rematch

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Roger Federer hitting balls

Roger Federer overcame a first-set deficit to beat Radu Albot at the Miami Open, but he won’t meet Stan Wawrinka in the third round.

After losing the first set 6-4 to the Moldovan, three-time Miami champion Federer must have felt a sense of déjà vu as he lost in the second round in Key Biscayne last year.

However, he got his act together and pulled out a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory in two hours and 10 minutes.

“I’m happy I got it out of the way. I’m happy I was able to find a way tonight,” said the 23-time Grand Slam winner, who hit 38 winners but also made 41 unforced errors.

He will face Filip Krajinovic next after the Serbian denied Wawrinka a rematch with his fellow Swiss.

Federer beat Wawrinka at the Indian Wells Masters a fortnight ago, but the three-time Grand Slam winner was beaten 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) by Krajinovic.

Meanwhile, Kevin Anderson made a winning return to action as the South African beat Spaniard Jaume Munar.

Two-time Grand Slam finalist Anderson’s hadn’t played since the Australian Open in January due to an elbow injury, but he returned with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Munar.

“To get through in three sets, it felt really good to be back out there. I’m happy with how the elbow responded. I feel like I’m hitting the ball great,” the sixth seed said.

Eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas secured a comfortable 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 win over Mackenzie McDonald, but 10th seed Khachanov was beaten 6-2, 6-3 by Australian Jordan Thompson.

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