Miami Open: Sublime Alcaraz and Medvedev advance into quarterfinals

Miami, March 30 (IANS): Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz battled past Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-3 in nearly two hours to secure a place in the quarterfinals at the Miami Open on Wednesday (IST).

Alcaraz will face Miomir Kecmanovic after the Serbian advanced with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over American Taylor Fritz.

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev defeated American Jenson Brooksby 7-5, 6-1 to also advance into the quarterfinals. Medvedev did not have it all his own way as he was forced to rally from 5-3 down in the first set before going on to book his place in the last-eight in 80 minutes.

World No. 2 Medvedev sets up a showdown against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz who continued his Miami title defence with a 7-6(3), 6-2 win over the resurgent South African Lloyd Harris.

In a rematch of their five-set epic at the US Open, the 18-year-old Alcaraz improved to 15-2 on the season. “It was really, really tough. He was playing unbelievable. All I can say is I fought until the last ball in the first set (to) come back,” the Spaniard said.

After conceding an early break to a motivated Tsitsipas, the youngster took charge by winning seven straight games from 2-5 down in the first.

Everything was working for the Spaniard, who suddenly had his opponent chasing shadows. On the rare occasions Tsitsipas was able to attack, Alcaraz flashed his world-class defence and speed to further frustrate the world No. 5.

Osaka fires 13 aces to secure semifinal clash against Bencic

Former world No.1 and winner of four Grand Slams, Naomi Osaka of Japan, lost only three games in her 6-2, 6-1 victory over No.9 seed Danielle Collins of the US to make it to her maiden Miami Open semifinal on Wednesday (IST).

The Florida native fired 13 aces against the Australian Open semifinalist en route to meeting defending champion Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in the last-four. With the victory, the twice US Open and two-time Australian Open winner became the second Japanese woman to reach the last-four at the Miami Open since Kimiko Date Krumm did so in 1993 and 1995.

If Osaka beats Bencic in the semifinal, it will be the 24-year-old Japanese player’s first WTA 1000 final since 2020.

Osaka has not lost a set en route to the Miami semifinals, having defeated Astra Sharma of Australia, Angelique Kerber of Germany, Alison Riske of the US, and No.9 seed Collins. She has now won nine of her last 10 quarterfinals and carries a strong record in semifinals into her match against Bencic, who she has yet to beat in a tour-level match, according to wtatennis.com.