Zverev Advances To Kyrgios Miami Showdown, Kyrgios-Verdasco Scuttle; Del Potro Returns Tues

by Staff | March 27th, 2018, 12:18 am
  • 74 Comments

Before the late evening rains, six of the eight scheduled men’s matches were completed notably 2017 semifinalist Nick Kyrgios set up a young gun showdown with Alexander Zverev.

Kyrgios rolled Fabio Fognini, who also made the semifinals last year, by a score of 6-3, 6-3.

“We both competed,” Kyrgios said. “I just played a little better in some bigger points.


“I knew it was going to be tough. He has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and he’s very unpredictable,” Kyrgios added. “I knew I just had to serve well, play aggressive and keep the points short. When he gets in a rhythm he’s pretty dangerous.”

Kyrgios has lost just 11 games in two matches. Zverev had a much, much tougher test against former finalist David Ferrer edging the Spaniard 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

After Zverev went up a quick break in the third, Ferrer got back but a critical double fault gave the German the final break he needed.

Kyrgios leads Zverev 3-2 winning in the quarters of Miami last year. Zverev got him back last month in Davis Cup.

In the Australia-Spain series, Fernando Verdasco put an end to Thanasi Kokkinakis’s run, besting the 21-year-old 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) in 2 hours, 54 minutes.

Kokkinakis was up a break in the third and led 3-0 in the final set breaker.

Kyrgios had this to say about Verdasco:

Then Verdasco fired back at Kyrgios since-delete tweet:

Could they meet in the semifinals on Friday? Wow! Next for Verdasco tomorrow is countryman Pablo Carreno Busta who eased past American Steve Johnson.

No. 6 Kevin Anderson scored a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win No. 32 Karen Khachanov. He’ll await the rain-delayed winner between Tomas Berdych and Frances Taifoe.

Denis Shapovalov held off Sam Querrey in a thriller 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. Querrey blew a break lead and several more breaks chances in the third to the Canadian who is playing is first Miami Open.

“It was a really tough match and I just fought for every point and I’m really happy to get the win,” Shapovalov said. “Sam’s such an incredible player, so it’s a huge win for me.”

“I wasn’t putting a lot of first serves in in the second and third set,” Shapovalov added. “But I just kept fighting for every point and I’m extremely happy with the way I handled myself today.”

The 18-year-old will take on Borna Coric who came back from a set down to beat Jack Sock 5-7, 7-6, 6-3.

Also tomorrow, Juan Martin del Potro will look to improve his win streak to 14 against Serb Filip Krajinovic. Hyeon Chung battles Joao Sousa, Marin Cilic takes on fellow big man John Isner and Milos Raonic meets Jeremy Chardy.

TUESDAY MIAMI SCHEDULE
STADIUM start 11:00 am
ATP – [14] J. Isner (USA) vs [2] M. Cilic (CRO)
Not Before 1:00 pm
WTA – [13] S. Stephens (USA) vs [10] A. Kerber (GER)
ATP – [5] J. Del Potro (ARG) vs [22] F. Krajinovic (SRB)
ATP-Possible Court Change – D. Shapovalov (CAN) vs [29] B. Coric (CRO)

7:30 pm
WTA – [WC] V. Azarenka (BLR) vs [5] Ka. Pliskova (CZE)
Not Before 9:00 pm
ATP – [4] A. Zverev (GER) vs [17] N. Kyrgios (AUS)

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am
ATP – J. Sousa (POR) vs [19] H. Chung (KOR)
ATP – [20] M. Raonic (CAN) vs J. Chardy (FRA)
ATP – [31] F. Verdasco (ESP) vs [16] P. Carreno Busta (ESP)
Not Before 5:00 pm
ATP-Possible Court Change – [10] T. Berdych (CZE) or F. Tiafoe (USA) vs [6] K. Anderson (RSA)
WTA – [1] E. Makarova (RUS) / E. Vesnina (RUS) vs L. Kichenok (UKR) / A. Kudryavtseva (RUS)
WTA – [6] B. Krejcikova (CZE) / K. Siniakova (CZE) vs [2] H. Chan (TPE) / L. Chan (TPE)


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74 Comments for Zverev Advances To Kyrgios Miami Showdown, Kyrgios-Verdasco Scuttle; Del Potro Returns Tues

SG1 Says:

Too bad this isn’t hockey. Stan the Man would have laid out this tennis turkey a long time ago.


Margot Says:

Like a stately ocean going liner, Chung sails serenely into the next round.


j-kath Says:

And there out goes CILIC … by stating “wants to be No.1”; “wants to beat XYZ”….he always jinxes himself…sigh, sigh.


chofer Says:

Margot

Serenely or dangerously?:)


Daniel Says:

Cilic is not reliable, actually no one is these days.

Chung into QF. Raonic up a set.

Have no clue who will win Miami, slight edge to DelPo as he likes being on a roll. remember when he won those 4 back to back tourneys a few years back.


Margot Says:

Chofer: after years of supporting Andy, a bit of serenity is more than welcome….;)


chofer Says:

Margot

Funny you chose Chung to supplant Andy:) There is some Murray-esque things in his game. He’s so fast and has tremendous court sense. But, YES, he’s poker-faced, unlike Andy. That oriental calm can make wonders.

I thinks he’s a little more aggressive, too? Especially on the Fh side.

I’m still rooting for Delpo, until I won’t:)


chofer Says:

The man with no torso winning easy. He’s just smile on court! The Earth is about to collapse! But the man with no torso won’t be disheveled if that happens. He wears lots of gel.


Margot Says:

Chofer: I like Shapo very much too, also Coric, Naughty Nick and quite a number of others. Nothing will ever be as intense as supporting Andy…phew! Yes Chung does remind me of Andy in many ways, as you say, speed, court sense and variety of shot, tho his boyhood hero was Novak.


skeezer Says:

Andy has a better service game…


Margot Says:

Skeeze: expand please. Chung’s serve may not be so powerful as Andy’s but it’s a damn sight more reliable, believe me!


chofer Says:

Margot: As long as you don’t show sympathy for Milos, It’s all right with me. Nothing against the man with no torso. It’s just zzzzzzz…..

I’m anxiosly waiting for El Shapo to rug the Canadian flag off of him! And my “tennis undiscovery crush”: El Felix.

I was one of the few ardent supporters of Kyrgios in the old forum of tennis.com. It’s just that you can´t have some much patience with a mercurial talent with no game plan-)

Coric, I like his body compact. Terrifickly build for such a defensive mindset. I’m liking him a bit more now that he strnds 10 inches closer to the line. Sasha Zverev seems like the one with more “upside”. But his efficient game don’t turn me on that much. I prefer Chung much more. He seems to have Zverev’s upside, but it’s more exciting to watch. He moves better, too!

Skeezer; Agree. But, at Chung’s age, it was pretty much the same. He’ll get better.


chofer Says:

Andy’s serve become more reliable when his fitness improved. He serves poorly on self-sabotage mode.


j-kath Says:

Margot….so sad to know that that big sofa of yours will no longer be in use – keep the shed, who knows may be familiarly welcoming. C’mon Andy!


Humble Rafa Says:

Asia Man 2 is doing well. He may overtake Asia Man 1 in popularity. With a name like Chung, it goes a long way (only second to Hung).


Margot Says:

chofer: Indeedy Coric’s bod…..just perfect for…tennis ;p
Watching Krajinovic taking it to JMDP, he’s rather good too.
Don’t worry, Milos and Isner are not, and never will be, on my favourite’s list.
Kath: think the old sofa may be in constant use when Andy comes back, but hoping I’m wrong.


Humble Rafa Says:

Milos and Isner are not, and never will be, on my favourite’s list.

If you are nice to him, Mr. Canadia will give you the name of his secret hair gel.


Margot Says:

^ Unruly hair is such a problem, what’s a chap to do?


j-kath Says:

Ah Margot – my spirits rise….Andy’s always needed the old sofa…he will increase one’s blood pressure as usual…but if fully fit will be doggedly tenacious – even though the start may be tough.


skeezer Says:

Bird finally showed some class. After losing the match in a 3 set breaker, he jumped over the net to congratulate Tiafoe, probably his biggest win to date. Take back some of opinions have had of the guy.


BBB Says:

Margot I can’t remember if I’ve said this here before, but Coric bears an uncanny resemblance to my ex-husband. A combination of my ex and his brother, actually.


Margot Says:

BBB: Your EX-husband you say? How very careless of you….;)


BBB Says:

You’ve gotta be able to live with these people, unfortunately….


Daniel Says:

DelPo turns a slow start to win his 14th straight. Into QF and 3 matches away for a sunshine double.

Remember last year someone post a stat theat all Year End #1 player in the last 10-15 years was always ranked insode top 2 in race points after Miami.
With Cilicl lost the only player who can surpass DelPo for #2 race is Chung, and that if Delpo loses next match and Chung wins the tournament.

So, if DelPo wins one more match reaching semis, after Miami Fed would be #1 and him #2 in the race.

This year seems unusual, and my take is there will be 4-5 players with realicstic chances at #1.

All of course depends how Nadal fare on clay, but even so, just to relaize that next Sunday there will be a new Miami champion shows there is a shift.


Daniel Says:

Wow, Verdasco bageled, seems he is tired from yestedray, afrter all he is 33.


Willow Says:

BBB /Margot my husband bears a resembalence to singer Rick Astley just wanted to throw that in lol ….


Margot Says:

Verdasco woken up in the 2nd, which is exactly how he played against 4xK,
Wow! How amazing for Chung.


Margot Says:

Lol Willow, the chap in my local Tesco looks exceedingly like a young De Caprio. Suddenly it’s my favourite supermarket…;)


BBB Says:

Does your husband sing like Rick Astley??


Willow Says:

Margot lol, good actor i must say, but he never did anything for me, i just never got it ….


chofer Says:

Milos Raonic seems like a Hollywood extra from a Douglas Sirk movie. The cookolded husband. Perhaps, he lives in that era.


Margot Says:

Love this conversation, suddenly so surreal :) He was so beautiful as a young man Willow. Romeo and Juliet was just divine.
So…..does he sing like RA?


Willow Says:

Margot lol ….


Margot Says:

And Busta Gut comes through, another one quietly, steadily, coasting through. So glad he won,how on earth could Verdasco have played the next round?
chofer: Milos straight out of West World, isn’t he?
Meanwhile, C’mon Frances! Hope you’ve got enough left to take out Anderson.


j-kath Says:

BBB: So, the question now is……..Do you like Coric?


chofer Says:

Margot

Hurry to see Borna’s body for maybe the last time! El Shapo has begun to play!


j-kath Says:

Chofer: Raonic’s will be cuckolded all his life but he’s so intellectually one dimensional that he’ll never know it.


chofer Says:

My women company are having the hots for these Valcanian pups. During the match Delpo-Krajinovic they can’t stopped asking who this Felipe is? The say Felipe because they can’t spell well his last name (Kráinovich, I said; Krahínovich, they said; so we’ve settle for Felipe)


chofer Says:

j-kath

You’re mean! It was just a character in a old film! Like him. lol.


Wog Boy Says:

JK,
I don’t know what you thought with “intellectually one dimensional”, but actually Milos is very smart young man, pretty well spoken and educated, coming from really good family, his entire family is higly educated with master degrees in various faculties, mother, father, sister, brother and Milos would be himself if it wasn’t for tennis.


j-kath Says:

Yes- Wogboy ….I know all that – but he should have been a scientist – because he is a thinker and lives in that world – not multi-dimensional in that he is very contained emotionally, and women usually need someone who has some capability of understanding their emotions.


j-kath Says:

Chofer: OK no problem – really nothing to do with what you said.


Wog Boy Says:

JK,
Well, I think you are wrong when it comes to Milos. From what I heard from people who knows him (from Montenegro) he is privately larrikin with great sense of humor, and love to socialize, the problem is that we can’t really judge them from what see on the court, that’s their job and their task is to win.
The one thing that I respect about him that stayed loyal to Canada even he doesn’t leave overthere anymore, his siblings have returned to Montenegro, his parents are likely to do so since their kids are now in Europe, but Canada made him who he is and consider himself Canadian, which is for respect.


j-kath Says:

Wog Boy: He’s very keen on art. I don’t dislike him – but I do
recognise “his type” (sounds awful thing but not meant derogatory – just a fact of life). I don’t know 99% of the tennis players so my view is based on the same criteria as what I see, hear, read…of the majority of them.


Markus Says:

Milos always sounded intelligent in interviews…and he has a drop-dead gorgeous girlfriend (not sure if they’re still together). He seems to have good manners. I’m happy to see him do well.


autoFilter Says:

Hypothetically yes; technically no.


Humble Rafa Says:

I have a master’s degree in professional time management between serves. Nobody admires me for that. At least Xisca has formal education.

Uncle Toni can read but not write. He is considered an intellectual from that side of the family.


Wog Boy Says:

^^^
😂👍


chofer Says:

People

Don’t be so parrochial. Can’t we just have fun with a helluva player that’s not everybody’s cup of tea? Why take EVERYTHING so personally? Lighten up! Nobody’s insulting the no torso man!

He seems TOO nice!


j-kath Says:

Humble Rafa: Lots of good comments here – but yours wins.


Markus Says:

chofer, that’s just how it is, sometimes you like or dislike somebody for no particular reason, and sometimes for the wrong reason. If you are wrong, it’s good to be corrected by somebody who knows. That’s my personal point of view.


chofer Says:

Markus

Im in penance for not liking that unmovable hairdo? Really? (Goes to the corner and cry)


chofer Says:

On the other hand, I looove seeing Vika Azarenka back again and playing so well!! Go Vika!!


AndyMira Says:

Markus 7:08pm…Agreee!!….That’s okay Milos!…I like NICE people!!…Got a weakness over them…I’m jumpin’ your bandwagon now!…Yeeehaaa!!


Markus Says:

chofer, it’s an open season on hairdos. Nobody who still has hair will be offended with whatever anybody says about hair.


Markus Says:

If only Azarenka would stop screaming, then I would be fully on her side.


Markus Says:

No, I take it back about Azarenka. I remember she had an argument with an umpire before and she was rather condescending. And that fake medical time out against Sloane at the Australian Open. She wasn’t nice and like AndyMira, I like NICE people!!


AndyMira Says:

Markus!….Yeaahhh!!…Woot!woot!woot!!


chofer Says:

There’s no such thing as perfect people, Markus.

I can rant about a poor sportsmanship showed by Raonic on his first match with Delpo. Google it. I’m too tired and about to go bed.

Anyway, I’m way over that incident. So is Delpo. Perhaps I’m bald, too:-


chofer Says:

Azarenka screamings are way beyond my ears, also. Monica Seles prepared me for about 10 years to cope with them. And the WTA could surely use a reliable champion. I like her in spite of her faults.


Markus Says:

One can not like a person but still respect and acknowledge his/her ability. Azarenka is one person who I don’t like for reasons I have mentioned yet I admit that she is a tremendously good tennis player and deserves her accomplishments. Liking/disliking her as a person is subjective. Assessing her as an athlete is objective.


chofer Says:

Agree. What I said about Milos is totally OBJECTIVE, too. And I don’t think he’s a bad person just because… I don’t know him personally? What he did that day was gamemanship, plain and simple. I’d rather think he had a bad the at the office, just like Azarenka against Sloane and every human subjective person I know.

But that’s just me. Everyone is entitled to his/her subjectivity.


Willow Says:

Hes nice as a person, its just his tennis, and on court persona, that leave me feeling a bit cold, he does have a beautiful girlfriend too as Markus says ….


Markus Says:

Hi, chofer, I know that Milos incident with del Potro. I didn’t like it either and thought he was a bad person. But I warmed up to him later, one mistake does not a bad person make. What matters is to do better after that.

Though I like Milos, I still want del Potro to win Miami. In fact, as I said in a previous post, being that a lot of the top players are out with injuries, I want del Potro to win everything now as it would be some sort of poetic justice.


Markus Says:

Kyrgios is another person I have started to warm up to. His tennis prowess is undeniable. I think all his unsavory behavior and language are mere bravado. They are so outrageous that I’m beginning to think it was me who failed to understand him and all that is just a form of sarcasm. One thing I can say for sure about him is that he is fiercely loyal to his friends.


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Milos was wrong in the Del Potro incident. He admitted he was wrong and apologized.

I also like Milos, but will probably be cheering for Del Potro. Happy that both of them look set for great seasons.


Daniel Says:

Yeah Markus, also want DelPo to win Miami. For him entering clay with 3 back to back titles including the sunshine double would be amazing.
Hope he gest a Slam this year also and maybe a few weeks as #1. That would be awesome with everyhting he went through.

Right now he is not schedule for Monte Carlo, I know he usually plays Estoril, but that may change.


skeezer Says:

margot,

Andy ( ahem….when on ) can hurt you with his serve, especially his First. His second can be a liability I know, well, everybody knows. To me Chung is mostly “just get it in” kinda guy, his strength is in his ground game. Yeah more consistent, no denying that. Remember, Andy won Wimby, gotta be serving well to win that.
I like Chung a lot too btw. Shop is probably the guy I think has the most potential. He is a fighter, has a rounded game, and is only 18. I thought Kyrgios was that guy, he for sure has the best shotmaking of all the young gen imo, but…..


Margot Says:

Cheers Skeeze, but Rafa has won Wimbledon without a killer serve so…. You’ve just “got to be serving well” and Chung is doing that at the mo.
I’m sure he can beef up his serve too, he’s a big guy.


BBB Says:

J-Kath – you ask a good question. I will admit I spent so many years with my ex helping him succeed that I now have a hard time watching Coric lose!


Daniel Says:

Margot,

But Nadal is unique as he is a lefty and serves with a lot of spin, on grass it was a big bonus for him. I think in the history of Wimbledon he is one of the few winners with not a good serve. Even Agassi had a better overall serve than Nadal.


Humble Rafa Says:

Effectiveness of my serve shows up every time I win the US Open.


Margot Says:

Daniel: Hewitt?


Daniel Says:

Spot on Margot, Hewitt has a worst serve than Nadal. Forgot about him;-)

Top story: Sinner Swallows Up Zverev For Second Straight Australian Open, 3rd Slam