Carlos Alcaraz swatted apart Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-0 7-6(5)to maintain his title protection on monitor on the Miami Open on Sunday, as Canadian Bianca Andreescu cruised previous American Sofia Kenin in straight units.
Spain’s teen phenom gained Indian Wells to retake the highest rating final week and stored the momentum going at Exhausting Rock Stadium as he fired off 26 winners to arrange a fourth-round assembly with Australian Open semi-finalist Tommy Paul.
“I at all times assume that you must go for it,” he informed the Tennis Channel after the match. “That is what I informed myself in (these) powerful moments.”
Lajovic shocked three-times Grand Slam winner Andy Murray within the first spherical however by no means hit his stride on Sunday, letting his solely break level probability slip by his fingers within the first set because the U.S. Open winner placed on a near-flawless efficiency.
Alcaraz transformed on a break level within the third recreation of the second set with an expertly positioned forehand winner however helped his opponent to a break within the tenth recreation with a handful of uncharacteristic errors.
Lajovic refused to go down with no battle, warding off three match factors within the tiebreak. However Alcaraz by no means misplaced his nerve and clinched it with a blistering backhand winner earlier than pumping his fist triumphantly.
“All the pieces was below management,” mentioned Alcaraz, who greeted the Miami Warmth’s six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler courtside after the match.
“However finish of match is rarely straightforward. The nerves got here out. I made a number of errors that I did not do round the entire match. So it was powerful to win.”
Former U.S. Open champion Andreescu harnessed her mighty serve to topple Kenin 6-4 6-4, sending over seven aces because the 2020 Australian Open winner did not mount a lot of a protection after an early exit from Indian Wells.
The swift affair was welcome reprieve for Andreescu after prolonged battles towards first- and second-round opponents Emma Raducanu of Britain and world No. 10, Greek Maria Sakkari, with Ekaterina Alexandrova ready within the spherical of 16.
“I undoubtedly benefit from the problem,” she mentioned in a televised interview. “These victories are undoubtedly very candy and I’ve had many powerful matches towards Sofia.”
Earlier on Sunday, Denmark’s Holger Rune despatched over seven aces and 27 winners to cease Argentine Diego Schwartzman 6-4 6-2. The seventh seed subsequent faces American Taylor Fritz for the primary time within the fourth spherical.
In a while Sunday, second-seeded Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka performs thirty first seed Marie Bouzkova and final yr’s twice Grand Slam runner-up Casper Ruud, seeded third, performs the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp.
This story has been printed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content.