Novak Djokovic triumphed at the Miami Open presented by Itau for the first time on 1 April 2007. It was the first of the Serbian’s record 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles.
Two days before he lifted the trophy, Federico Cina was born. This year, they are both competing in the Masters 1000 event.
“Djokovic is my favourite,” Cina told ATPTour.com, cracking a smile. “How he played, for me, it's the best.”
There is a big difference between the two, though. Djokovic, the six-time Miami champion, is pursuing his 100th tour-level title, while Cina is competing in a tour-level event for the first time.
The 17-year-old made the most of his wild card in the first round, defeating Francisco Comesana 7-6(4), 7-6(2). It was the teen’s first win against a Top 100 opponent — Comesana is No. 67 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
“I’m very happy. It was very difficult — a very, very difficult match, but I'm very happy to win,” Cina said. “I started the match very good, but after I took the break, but I played a very good tie-break. And then the second set, I was 5-2 [up], and then I got cramps, but I was very good to stay there every point.”
Cina showed his ability to persevere in the match — he suffered from cramp in the Florida heat thanks to a physical clash. The feeling after sealing match point is one the victor will remember forever, though.
“I was like, ‘Wow’, because I didn't expect [it], because I really couldn't move anymore,” Cina said. “But I was very happy.”
Cina comes from a tennis family. His father, Francesco Cina, is his coach. Francesco cracked the Top 500 in both singles and doubles. Naturally, Federico took up the sport.
“I was very little, like one year old,” Cina said. “With my dad, with my family, at home, I played and I fell in love.”
The Palermo native's nickname is 'Palli' because when his mother, Susanna, went for a pregnancy scan, she saw a little ball. In Italian, palli means little ball.
Federico's talent is anything but small. Last January, Cina reached World No. 4 in the juniors as a 16-year-old. It has not taken him long to show his potential at the professional level.
Just last week, the teen advanced to his first ATP Challenger Tour final in Hersonissos, Greece, ousting 2021 Australian Open semi-finalist Aslan Karatsev in straight sets in the last four.
“It was my first final in a Challenger. I played very good. [It gave me] a lot of confidence,” Cina said. “I grew up every time [I played], and this is very good.”
Cina could be the next in line of rapidly rising Italians. There are 11 Italians in the Top 100 this week. Before conducting this interview, Flavio Cobolli gave Cina a big hug.
“I see them every time on TV at the best level, so it's very inspiring to me,” Cina said.
It has been a special experience in Miami for Cina, who has previously trained with Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas. For his first ATP Tour event, Federico is competing in a draw with 24-time major champion Djokovic, Alcaraz and plenty more stars, including his next opponent: 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov.
“[It is] so cool, because I've always seen them in TV. I never saw them in person,” Cina said. “But it is so cool and I'm taking in every moment here.”
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