Medvedev Rolls In Miami Masters Opener While Hurkacz Survives, Shelton Out; Fritz v Shapo Sun.
The second round came to a close in the men’s draw Saturday at the Miami Open. Daniil Medvedev took the court and didn’t disappoint rolling past 30-year-old Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 6-1, 6-2.
The 27-year-old Medvedev was 4 of 4 on break chances, faced 1 break chances and never lost serve in the 62 minute match.
Carballes Baena slips to 0-11 against Top 10 players. Medvedev has won both of tour-level head-to-head meetings with Carballes Baena.
Former semifinalist Felix Auger-Aliassime got the better of Thiago Monteiro in two breakers 7-6(7-5), 7-6(10-8).
The 22-year-old Auger Aliassime connected on 12 aces to go with seven doubles. He lost only six points on first serve and never faced a break point in what turned out to be a break-less match.
In the match of the day, former champion and No. 8 seed Hubert Hurkacz edged Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7(10-12), 7-6(9-7), 7-6(8-6) saving five match points in the process. The Polish star faced three MPs in the second set breaker and two more in the deciding breaker to win it in just over 3.5 hours.
“It’s tough to explain for me. I knew I was playing good tennis, I mean Thanasi as well,” Hurkacz told the ATP. “I was just trying to stay in there and compete, play some good shots. Either way, if I won or I lost — obviously I wanted to win so, so much — but either way [I] should have been happy with myself.”
France’s Gregoire Barrere upset the 11th-seeded Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-2. The 14th-seeded Karen Khachanov toppled Tomas Martin Etcheverry in three sets 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. No. 12 Frances Tiafoe won a late-night rollercoaster over Yosuke Watanuki of Japan 6-7(5-7), 7-6(7-3), 6-4.
Quentin Halys upset 15th-seeded Alex De Minaur in three 6-7(5-7), 7-6(7-3), 7-6(10-8). Qualifier Christopher Eubanks upended No. 17 Borna Coric 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. The Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka took down No. 18 Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 and Mackenzie McDonald eliminated 19th-seeded Matteo Berrettini 7-6(10-8), 7-6(7-5).
Adrian Mannarino also pulled out a good win over the 32nd-seeded Ben Shelton 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
Second-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas didn’t even take the court earning a walkover from Richard Gasquet.
On Sunday, matches slated in third round play are highlighted by Carlos Alcaraz who resumes his title defense against Dusan Lajovic. Alcaraz has won all three tour-level meetings with Lajovic including last month in the Rio quarterfinals.
No. 3 Casper Ruud battles No. 26 Botic Van De Zandschulp. Van De Zandschulp has won two of three tour-level head-to-head collisions when facing Ruud. Ruud was the victor in their last meeting at 2022 Rome Masters.
No. 6 Andrey Rublev clashes with No. 29 Miomir Kecmanovic, No. 7 Holger Rune faces No. 31 Diego Schwartzman, No. 9 Taylor Fritz collides with No. 24 Denis Shapovalov, No. 10 Jannik Sinner draws No. 21 Grigor Dimitrov, No. 16 Tommy Paul gets No. 20 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina plus Taro Daniel will battle Emil Ruusuvuori.
SUNDAY MIAMI MASTERS SCHEDULE
STADIUM
Matches Start At: 12:00 pm
WTA Bianca Andreescu (CAN) vs Sofia Kenin (USA)
ATP Taylor FRITZ (USA) [9] vs Denis SHAPOVALOV (CAN) [24]
ATP Carlos ALCARAZ (ESP) [1] vs Dusan LAJOVIC (SRB)
Not Before 7:00 PM
WTA Marie Bouzkova (CZE) [31] vs Aryna Sabalenka [2]
Not Before 8:30 pm
ATP Casper RUUD (NOR) [3] vs Botic VAN DE ZANDSCHULP (NED) [26]
GRANDSTAND
Matches Start At: 11:00 am
ATP Alejandro DAVIDOVICH FOKINA (ESP) [20] vs Tommy PAUL (USA) [16]
Not Before 1:00 PM
WTA Ekaterina Alexandrova [18] vs Belinda Bencic (SUI) [9]
WTA Petra Kvitova (CZE) [15] vs Donna Vekic (CRO) [22]
WTA Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) [16] vs Madison Keys (USA) [19]
Not Before 7:00 pm
ATP Jannik SINNER (ITA) [10] vs Grigor DIMITROV (BUL) [21]
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