By Chris Oddo | Monday March 21, 2016

 

Roger Federer could face Juan Martin del Potro in his first match back from knee surgery in Miami.

Photo Source: Christopher Levy

The draw for the 2016 Miami Open has produced a few enticing early-round matchups. None more noteworthy than Roger Federer’s first match back from knee surgery as the World No. 3 could face Juan Martin del Potro in his second round match (after bye).

See the Complete Miami Open Men's Singles Draw Here

But Del Potro will have to get past his countryman Guido Pella to set up the encounter, and Pella has been in good form this season. The 25-year-old Buenos Aires resident is already close to doubling his career total of ATP wins. He started the season with 11 but has won eight times on tour this year, including four straight wins in Rio that took him to his first career final.

Federer has been drawn into Novak Djokovic’s half of the draw, and could face him in the semifinals if the seeds hold.

Djokovic holds the edge in the rival’s lifetime head-to-head, 23-22.

Top-seeded Djokovic, bidding for his third consecutive Miami Open title and sixth overall, will open with either Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund or Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic. Djokovic could face 25th-seeded Martin Klizan in the third round and 14th-seeded Dominic Thiem in the round of 16.

Djokovic would face 7th-seeded Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals if the seeds hold.

2005 and 2006 Miami champion Federer would face 15th-seeded David Goffin in the round of 16 and 8th-seeded David Ferrer in the quarterfinals if the seeds hold.

The quarterfinals in the lower half of the draw would feature 4th-seeded Stan Wawrinka against 5th-seeded Rafael Nadal and 2nd-seeded Andy Murray against 6th-seeded Kei Nishikori.

After a bye, Nadal will open with either Damir Dzumhur or Leonardo Mayer in the second round and could face Milos Raonic in the round of 16. Two-time champion Murray is slated to face either Borna Coric or Denis Istomin in the second round after his bye, and could face Grigor Dimitrov in the third round.

Since 2005 only two players other than Djokovic, Murray and Federer have won the title in Miami. Nikolay Davydenko won the title in 2008 while Andy Roddick won in 2010.

Men’s singles action commences Wednesday at the Crandon Park Tennis Center.