Roger Federer commits 32 unforced errors but advances to Miami Open quarters

Roger Federer has played near-flawless tennis for most of the year but he was pushed to the limit by Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round of the Miami Open on Tuesday. Though Federer came away with a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) victory, he committed an uncharacteristic 32 unforced errors in a hard-fought contest.

After clinching the 2017 Australian Open and BNP Paribas Open, Federer is currently 16-1 this year, matching his career-best record at this juncture of an ATP season. Amazingly, Federer started the year ranked No. 17 and targeted reaching No. 8 by Wimbledon -- to secure a better seeding. The Swiss master could be a potential Top-3 ranked player by next month and could surge to World No. 1 if Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray continue to miss tournaments with injuries.

"Is it the best I've ever played? For me, it's hard to say yes to that question. ... Maybe on the offensive side, overall, I think I'm doing definitely a few things better than I ever have. I do feel that I have improved. The game has evolved, I had to adjust, but overall I do believe I'm probably a better player than I was 10 years ago," said Federer, via ESPN, when told that his 16-1 start to the season eclipses all his previous years at the helm.

Miami Open: Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal final on the cards

Rafael Nadal, Federer's oldest and most celebrated rival has also made an encouraging start to 2017. Despite losing the 2017 Australian Open finals to Federer, Nadal is growing from strength-to-strength and resembling the player that captured 14 Grand Slams. The Spaniard is hoping to replicate Federer's success.

"It's a good start of the year, I think, for both of us. Obviously, it's a little bit better for him, but at the same time I'm happy with the way that I am playing, happy with the way that I started the year after a tough second part of the year last year with injuries. So I think it's a positive for both of us that we can still (be) around here and be very competitive almost every week that we are playing," said Nadal.

Roger Federer, a former two-time champion at the Key Biscayne event (2005, 2006), will now face Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open. Rafael Nadal will face American Jack Sock in the final eight. There’s a possibility of a Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal final on Sunday.