MIAMI, March 30, 2016
Fourth round action at Crandon Park on Tuesday was led by world number one and five time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic taking on his match win co-leader on the ATP World Tour this season Dominic Thiem. It was top-seed, who eventually secured his 25th victory in 2016, defeating the Austrian youngster 6-3, 6-4 in the pair’s second meeting. Djokovic saved 14 of the 15 break points he faced, converting three of his own to advance after one hour and 49 minutes.
“I stayed tough when it was most needed. In the important moments I just tried to make him play, make him run. He has very powerful strokes from the back of the court, so he either makes some really amazing shots, down the line mostly, and some great inside out forehands, or he makes a mistake. It was a straight-set win, but far from easy,” Djokovic said.
“Dominic is one of the leaders of this generation, no question doubt about it. He’s already established himself as a Top 20 player the last couple years. He’s getting stronger and more confident.”
Thiem posted on facebook:
“Today were positive and negative things, I can take advantage of in the future. The good thing is that I really saw the difference between our last meeting and today’s, there was a big improvement. Sadly I couldn’t take advantage of my breakpoint, I only converted one out of 15, thats too less, especially when your opponent is the number one in the world. Nevertheless, I am happy about my performance here in Miami, I was able to gain some new experience and now I am heading, of course a little bit disappointed, back home. Next up, CLAY-COURT-SEASON!”
Djokovic will meet Tomas Berdych next. The seventh seed overcame world number 10 Richard Gasquet, winning 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. Berdych fired 12 aces and won 80% of his first service points to register his 30th career win in Miami after two hours and 27 minutes.
Tomas Berdych (photo: Miami Open)
With 27 holds in 27 service games this week, 15th seed David Goffin has become first Belgian men’s quarterfinalist in Miami. The Rocourt native ended the winning streak of Argentine lucky loser Horacio Zeballos, who replaced Roger Federer in the second round, winning 7-5, 6-3 in one hour and 25 minutes. Goffin will take on the tournament’s number 18 Gilles Simon, who emerged victorious from the all-French-encounter with Lucas Pouille 6-0, 6-1 in only 57 minutes. Simon has made it to the stage of the final four in Florida for the third time.
Come on 👊🏻 #miamiopen #quarterfinals https://t.co/cYMbcTA9OU
— David Goffin (@David__Goffin) 29. März 2016
24th seed Nick Kyrgios beat Andrey Kuznetsov 7-6, 6-3 in the pair’s first tour meeting. The 20-year-old Australian, who is making his Miami debut, sent down 11 aces and converted two of his six break point chances to advance after one hour and 23 minutes.
Another good day on the court, tough match against a tough & talented competitor. Pleased to be moving on in @MiamiOpen💪🏾💪🏾👊🏾👊🏾
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) 29. März 2016
Kyrgios will meet the world number 12 Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals. The 25-year-old Canadian cruised past Damir Dzumhur 6-0, 6-3 in only 54 minutes. Raonic didn’t face a break point and capitalized on all of his own four chances to reach the stage of the final eight in Miami for the second time.
Kei Nishikori (photo: Miami Open)
Gael Monfils fought off Grigor Dimitrov. The 16th seed from France used nine aces to come back 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, reaching the quarterfinals at Crandon Park for the first time. The match lasted two hours and 30 minutes. Monfils will take on Kei Nishikori next.
“Kei is a very good player. He has been very consistent,” Monfils said.
Nishikori extended his unbeaten record over Roberto Bautista-Agut to 4-0 with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Spaniard. The sixth seed from Japan won 76% of his first service points and converted four of his eight break points to advance after one hour and 24 minutes.
“It was a great match for me,” Nishikori said. “I played the way I wanted to play.”
