MIAMI/WASHINGTON, March 27, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
The fourth round of the Miami Open highlighted all 16 players as they battled for eight quarterfinal berths in the season’s second ATP Masters 1000. It featured seven of the Top 10 seeds, including two past Miami champions: No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz, who lifted the Miami Open champion’s trophy in 2022 and reigning champion and No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev.
Both Alcaraz and Medvedev were featured on Hard Rock Stadium during the day session.
The day began as Medvedev took on left-handed German Dominik Koepfer, ranked 50th, who was seeking the biggest win of his career. The World No. 4 from Russia defeated Koepfer en route to two of his three US Open finals and was hoping to remain on course to successfully defend an ATP Tour title for the first time in his career after winning his 20 tour-level titles at 20 different locations.
As it happened, Medvedev garnered his 350th career ATP Tour victory with a 7-6 (5), 6-0 triumph over Koepfer in an hour and 29 minutes and ran his Miami Open winning streak to eight.
Make that 350 wins 🙌
The defending champ @DaniilMedwed is into the quarter-finals after a powerful display against Koepfer 7-6(5) 6-0✌️@miamiopen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/deAaOjNlxk
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 26, 2024
After Medvedev rallied from 0-4 down in the opening-set tie-break, it was one-way traffic that favored the Russian. He handled Koepfer with ease in the second set and remained unblemished through his first three matches. Medvedev finished with 17 winners, broke Koepfer’s serve four times and outpointed him 70-55.
“I think sometimes it happens, when you lose the first set the way he lost it,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview, comparing and contrasting the two sets. “He played very good, probably was closer to winning it because of the 4-0 in the tie-break and when you lose such a set, especially when the points were tough, it brings your energy down.
“I knew I had to use that in the beginning of the second set. That’s why it was the most important and I managed to do it. Sometimes that happens, but the level was high today.”
Mighty in Miami 👍@DaniilMedwed motors past Koepfer 7-6 6-0 to reach his 19th career Masters quarter-final! #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/P2SnSp5QCS
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 26, 2024
Next, Medvedev will face No. 22 seed Nicolas Jarry of Chile, who upset No. 7 seed Casper Ruud of Norway, 7-6 (3), 6-3, in an hour and 50 minutes on the Grandstand.
Jarry hit 39 winners – 25 of them in the opening set – to reach his first Miami Open quarterfinal and second ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal. He’s just the third Chilean after Marcelo Rios in 1998 and Fernando Gonzalez in 2004 to advance to the final eight in south Florida.
“I’m very happy with the result, very happy with the way I played today,” Jarry said after his victory. “I was very strong on court, not missing many easy balls. The conditions were so tough. The wind was extreme and Casper also, he’s a grinder. I’m very happy.”
CHILE IN THE QUARTERS 🇨🇱@NicoJarry takes out Ruud 7-6(3) 6-3 to make the last 8 in Miami!@miamiopen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/8T8oLDgJ9T
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 26, 2024
Alcaraz beats Musetti for ninth consecutive win
Meanwhile, Alcaraz faced No. 23 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, who knocked out the last American from the men’s draw, No. 16 seed Ben Shelton, Monday evening.
The 2022 champion from Spain entered play on an eight-match winning streak, with an eye toward becoming the first player since Roger Federer in 2017 to capture titles at Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. Meanwhile, Musetti was looking for the second-biggest win of his career, after defeating No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Monte-Carlo last year.
Double Sun Dreams 🌟@carlosalcaraz moves past Musetti 6-3 6-3 for his ninth consecutive win at #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/UPnZTeFLW6
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 26, 2024
Alcaraz raced to a 6-3, 6-3 win in 86 minutes to extend his winning streak to nine and to reach the Miami Open quarterfinals for the third straight year. His all-court prowess accounted for 23 winners and he won 63 percent of his second-serve returns. Alcaraz, who controlled the net by winning 18 points in 22 tries, outpointed Musetti 64-50.
“I know that his style is playing from the back with spin. I tried to not let him feel comfortable on the court,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview. “I tried to play my game, play aggressive with my shots, go to the net, drop shots, my style. I think I did pretty well and I’m really happy with my performance.”
“Without a doubt, it’s the best feeling.”
Undefeated in his last nine matches, @carlosalcaraz is FEELING IT at #MiamiOpen 🤩 pic.twitter.com/JJD7PBQexX
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 26, 2024
Next, Alcaraz will face No. 11 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, who rallied past No. 8 seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), in two hours and 42 minutes on the Grandstand. Dimitrov struck 43 winners and outpointed Hurkacz 109-105.
“Finally! I knew the last one was missing honestly. It’s been like a kryptonite for me, this tournament,” Dimitrov said, after achieving a complete set of nine ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal appearances. “It was a very tough battle today. Hubi is such an amazing guy. I think above all I was just happy that I could stay in the match and have such a good run. He’s such a tricky competitor, so crafty around the court. I think physically we were both going at each other very hard today. It was a pleasant match honestly to play.”
Another turnaround for Dimi 🔄
For a second time this week, @GrigorDimitrov recovers from a set down, defeating Hurkacz 3-6 6-3 7-6(3)! 🇧🇬
Next up: QF showdown against Alcaraz 🥵@miamiopen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/awv0v9vaT6
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 27, 2024
Machac’s Miami Open run lifts him into the Top 50
The Miami Open fortnight has seen the Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac play some of his best tennis. First, the 60th-ranked Czech earned the biggest win of his career over World No. 6 Andrey Rublev of Russia in the second round, then beat two-time Miami Open champion Andy Murray of Great Britain in the third round to advance to his first ATP Masters 1000 fourth round.
A week after Jiri Lehecka became the first Czech in an ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal since 2017, the 23-year-old Machac joined him with his 6-3, 6-3 take down of No. 38 Matteo Arnaldi of Italy that guaranteed himself a Top 50 debut on Monday. Pretty steady improvement for Machac, who is a six-time ATP Challenger Tour champion.
Machac hit 14 winners and converted three of three break-point opportunities against Arnaldi during their 80-minute match on the Grandstand.
✅First Masters 1000 QF
✅Top 50 debutNot a bad day at the office for Tomas Machac as he defeats Matteo Arnaldi 6-3 6-3 🇨🇿@miamiopen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/9WJySEDBGX
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 26, 2024
Next, Machac will play No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner of Italy, who fought past 66th-ranked Australian Christopher O’Connell to win 6-4, 6-3, in an hour and 51 minutes. Down 1-3 and facing a double-break scenario, Sinner recovered nicely and won five of the next six games to capture the first set. Then, he built upon the momentum of breaking O’Connell in the opening game of the second set and never looked back.
“Today was much different [than Sunday’s match]. Much more windy, so I had to adjust a little bit,” said Sinner, who is through to his fourth straight Miami Open quarterfinal. “I had some chances even before I broke him, so I know that I was doing the right things. I tried to serve really solid. He made a couple of mistakes in important moments and I think today was the key.”
Jannik 🔜 QFs 🌴
It’s 4⃣th consecutive quarter-final in Miami for @janniksin as he gets past O’Connell 6-4 6-3❗️@miamiopen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/fnkAsHoX2a
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 26, 2024
Marozsan reaches second ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal
Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan advanced to his second ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal and improved to 4-1 against Top 10 players after defeating World No. 10 and ninth seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, 6-4, o-6, 6-1, in an hour and 43 minutes on the Grandstand.
In the course of the Miami Open fortnight, the 24-year-old Marozsan has improved from No. 57 to No. 38 and he’s made the fourth round or better in four career ATP Masters 1000 events.
Next, Marozsan will face World No. 5 and fifth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany, who advanced with a 6-1, 6-4 win over No. 15 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia in 69 minutes on Hard Rock Stadium. Zverev has reached back-to-back quarterfinals during the Sunshine Double.
FABIAN ✨ MAROZSAN ✨@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/TFVLpEFFkK
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 27, 2024
Wednesday’s Miami Open order of play
By the numbers
There were no Americans in the fourth round at Miami for only the second time – and first since 2016 – in tournament history.
“Quotable …”
“It’s kind of difficult to stay focused on the match, having such legends from every sport. It’s great for me. I try to show great tennis, try to make them happy as well, make them enjoy watching my games.
“It’s a great opportunity to have them here, to talk with them a little bit. It’s great to put on a show in front of them.”
— Carlos Alcaraz during his on-court interview after defeating Gaël Monfils Monday evening, on playing in front of NBA all-star Jimmy Butler, soccer great Neymar and tennis champion Juan Martin del Potro.
