NEW DELHI: World primary Carlos Alcaraz defeated Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) on Sunday to go into the final 16 of the Miami Open.
The 19-year-old Spaniard, who beat Daniil Medvedev to win the identify in Indian Wells final week, appeared in most sensible situation as he outclassed Lajovic within the first set to stay his Miami identify protection on target.
But the Serb was once in a position to supply some rigidity in opposition to the top of the second one set, breaking to make it 5-5 with Alcaraz paying the fee for a sloppy go back.
Alcaraz was once 6-2 up within the tie-break, however Lajovic gained the following 3 issues earlier than the Spaniard’s large back-hand winner settled the 91-minute contest.
“Everything was under control or I thought it was but, you know, in the match it’s never easy,” Alcaraz mentioned.
“The nerves came out. I made a few mistakes that I hadn’t done during the whole match. So it was tough to win the match. But I’m really happy with the level that I’m playing and it was a good match,” he added.
Alcaraz will face Tommy Paul within the final 16 and the American is going into that recreation at the again of a 12-match profitable streak in opposition to Spanish gamers together with wins over Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal final 12 months.
“I lost the first and only match that I played against Tommy. I know that he’s a really talented and really tough player, so I have to play at my best and let’s see what’s going to happen,” mentioned Alcaraz.
With Nadal injured and Novak Djokovic barred from coming into the USA because of his refusal to take a COVID vaccine, Alcaraz is the face of this match and the gang was once noticeably larger at the Hard Rock Stadium court docket for his recreation.
In the entrance row of the gang was once Miami Heat NBA celebrity Jimmy Butler who embraced Alcaraz after the tournament.
Alcaraz mentioned that coping with his magnified profile is one thing he has but to get absolutely used to.
“I feel great seeing celebrities watching my matches. It’s unbelievable. I feel a little bit nervous when I see a person like Jimmy and the celebrities when I was playing in the US Open,” he mentioned.
“In a certain way, I can’t believe that these people enjoy watching my matches. For me, it’s crazy,” he mentioned.
American Taylor Fritz rolled into the fourth spherical for the 3rd consecutive 12 months after clinching a 6-4, 6-4 win in opposition to Canada’s Denis Shapovalov.
In a hard-hitting come upon, with each gamers blasting from the baseline, Fritz didn’t face a destroy level all over the 81-minute come upon.
“I felt like I just protected my serve well. I didn’t give him a lot of free points, served well, so I didn’t face any break points,” mentioned Fritz.
“I was just able to capitalize on the one break that I got in both sets. That really, that was the difference,” he mentioned.
Fritz has already gained one match in Florida this 12 months, taking the identify final month at Delray Beach.
In the fourth spherical, the American shall be up in opposition to 19-year-old Holger Rune in who beat Argentine Daniel Schwartzman 6-4, 6-2.
As all the time at Miami, there’s a massive contingent of Argentines. Tennis fanatics they usually have been vocal of their reinforce for Schwartzman.
But Dane Rune transformed all 4 destroy issues he earned within the sizzling afternoon solar.
“My focus was really to step in every time I could and play my game. I think there were a few rallies where I didn’t, but 95 per cent of the match was played on my terms, which was what I wanted,” he mentioned.
Fourth-seed Daniil Medvedev moved into the fourth spherical after his scheduled 3rd spherical opponent Alex Molcan of Slovakia withdrew from Monday’s conflict with a proper hip harm.
(With inputs from AFP)
The 19-year-old Spaniard, who beat Daniil Medvedev to win the identify in Indian Wells final week, appeared in most sensible situation as he outclassed Lajovic within the first set to stay his Miami identify protection on target.
But the Serb was once in a position to supply some rigidity in opposition to the top of the second one set, breaking to make it 5-5 with Alcaraz paying the fee for a sloppy go back.
Alcaraz was once 6-2 up within the tie-break, however Lajovic gained the following 3 issues earlier than the Spaniard’s large back-hand winner settled the 91-minute contest.
“Everything was under control or I thought it was but, you know, in the match it’s never easy,” Alcaraz mentioned.
“The nerves came out. I made a few mistakes that I hadn’t done during the whole match. So it was tough to win the match. But I’m really happy with the level that I’m playing and it was a good match,” he added.
Alcaraz will face Tommy Paul within the final 16 and the American is going into that recreation at the again of a 12-match profitable streak in opposition to Spanish gamers together with wins over Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal final 12 months.
“I lost the first and only match that I played against Tommy. I know that he’s a really talented and really tough player, so I have to play at my best and let’s see what’s going to happen,” mentioned Alcaraz.
With Nadal injured and Novak Djokovic barred from coming into the USA because of his refusal to take a COVID vaccine, Alcaraz is the face of this match and the gang was once noticeably larger at the Hard Rock Stadium court docket for his recreation.
In the entrance row of the gang was once Miami Heat NBA celebrity Jimmy Butler who embraced Alcaraz after the tournament.
Alcaraz mentioned that coping with his magnified profile is one thing he has but to get absolutely used to.
“I feel great seeing celebrities watching my matches. It’s unbelievable. I feel a little bit nervous when I see a person like Jimmy and the celebrities when I was playing in the US Open,” he mentioned.
“In a certain way, I can’t believe that these people enjoy watching my matches. For me, it’s crazy,” he mentioned.
American Taylor Fritz rolled into the fourth spherical for the 3rd consecutive 12 months after clinching a 6-4, 6-4 win in opposition to Canada’s Denis Shapovalov.
In a hard-hitting come upon, with each gamers blasting from the baseline, Fritz didn’t face a destroy level all over the 81-minute come upon.
“I felt like I just protected my serve well. I didn’t give him a lot of free points, served well, so I didn’t face any break points,” mentioned Fritz.
“I was just able to capitalize on the one break that I got in both sets. That really, that was the difference,” he mentioned.
Fritz has already gained one match in Florida this 12 months, taking the identify final month at Delray Beach.
In the fourth spherical, the American shall be up in opposition to 19-year-old Holger Rune in who beat Argentine Daniel Schwartzman 6-4, 6-2.
As all the time at Miami, there’s a massive contingent of Argentines. Tennis fanatics they usually have been vocal of their reinforce for Schwartzman.
But Dane Rune transformed all 4 destroy issues he earned within the sizzling afternoon solar.
“My focus was really to step in every time I could and play my game. I think there were a few rallies where I didn’t, but 95 per cent of the match was played on my terms, which was what I wanted,” he mentioned.
Fourth-seed Daniil Medvedev moved into the fourth spherical after his scheduled 3rd spherical opponent Alex Molcan of Slovakia withdrew from Monday’s conflict with a proper hip harm.
(With inputs from AFP)