Ruud Tops Zverev For First Hard Court Masters SF In Miami; Medvedev, Alcaraz Thurs.

After three clay Masters semifinals, Casper Ruud is in his first hard Masters semifinal after upsetting Alexander Zverv 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in Miami Wednesday night.

The 23-year-old Ruud also collects his first Top 4 match win en route to his 19th career semifinal, 4th on hard courts.

“It was great to get that break early on and I was able to keep it all the way out,” Ruud said of his early break in the third. “I was serving well. I can thank my serving for the win today.”

For Zverev, it’s been a forgettable first three months of 2022. In five events so far, he’s made one semifinal — a final loss to Alexander Bublik in Montpellier. Plus, the off court drama in Acapulco where he was defaulted.

Ruud will be a big favorite in the Friday semifinal against the surprise Argentine Francisco Cerundolo. Playing in his first Masters, he’s made it all the way to the semifinal, though he’s had some luck along the way. Today in the quarters, his foe Jannik Sinner had to retire due to foot blisters down 4-1.

“I didn’t know anything,” Cerundolo said of the injury. “When I was serving at 3-1, 30-0, I saw him bending down. It was really strange. I didn’t see anything wrong and I hope he is ok, he is a great player. It means a lot. It is everything I have dreamed of.”

In the fourth round Frances Tiafoe was struggling with a back issue in the third set and in the second round Reilly Opelka couldn’t finish due to his shoulder.

Tomorrow, the quarters wrap up with top seed Daniil Medvedev a win from returning to No. 1 against defending champion Hubert Hurkacz.

Then in the evening, the dazzling Spanish teen Carlos Alcaraz seeks his second straight Masters semifinal against 22-year-old Miomir Kecmanovic who is playing his best tennis.

Ranked No. 103, the 23-year-old Cerundolo had never won a tour match on hard court until Miami!

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