MIAMI/WASHINGTON, March 26, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
Alexander Zverev, a 2018 finalist at the Miami Open, advanced to his fourth round of 16 in south Florida after beating No. 31 seed Christopher Eubanks, 7-6 (4), 6-3, in an hour and 44 minutes at Hard Rock Stadium Monday afternoon.
Eubanks, one of three Americans left in the draw, came from qualifying in Miami last year to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal and made his Top 100 debut. Against the World No. 5 and fourth seed Zverev, he was attempting to equal the biggest win of his career in front of a partisan home crowd.
However, it wasn’t meant to be and Zverev, who won an opening-set tie-break, raced to a 3-0 lead and never looked back as he won his 16th match of the season. Since the start of last season, Zverev has reached the round of 16 in eight of 11 ATP Masters 1000 events.
Into the round of 16 ➡️
Alexander Zverev defeats American Chris Eubanks 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the final 16 in Miami. #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/Pty3RQgvjB
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 25, 2024
“It was a difficult match. I thought he was in control of it throughout the first set,” Zverev said in his on-court interview. “I was just kind of hanging on and sometimes that is just what you need to do.
“He came out swinging and wasn’t giving me chances to be aggressive. I’m happy to be through in straight sets.
“His returning was incredible. I was surprised how well he was playing from the baseline, not giving me many unforced errors. He’s aggressive. He makes a lot but usually misses a lot but today he wasn’t missing, especially through some stages of the first set.”
Zverev hit eight aces, was solid on winning 81 percent of his second-serve points and converted both break-point chances he had against Eubanks. Zverev outpointed his opponent 75-61.
Next, Zverev will face World No. 16 Karen Khachanov of Russia in the fourth round, a rematch of the Tokyo Olympic Games gold medal match.
Last month Khachanov lost a second-round match to Jiri Lehecka in Dubai after failing to convert five match points. Monday afternoon on the Grandstand Court, the No.15 seed from Khachanov flirted with a repeat performance against No. 20 seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina. Fortunately for Khachanov, he righted himself in the nick of time and garnered a third-set tie-break over the Argentine on his fifth match point to win their third-round tussle, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (5), in two hours and 48 minutes.
Fifth time’s a charm
Look what it means as @karenkhachanov converts his 5th match point to edge past Francisco Cerundolo, 6-1 5-7 7-6(5). #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/jYLwOlm2qL
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 25, 2024
Upon finally securing match point, Khachanov bellowed “Vamos!” He had repeated his victory over Cerundolo from last year’s Miami Open quarterfinals.
This time, Khachanov outpointed Cerundolo 104-98 and improved his tie-break record this season to 9-3. He’s now into the round of 16 at the ATP Masters 1000 level for the 20th time in his career.
Alcaraz moves one step closer to Sunshine Double with Monfils win
World No. 2 and top seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain moved a step closer to winning the Sunshine Double — he’s already won the title at Indian Wells this month — after defeating No. 47 Gaël Monfils of France, 6-2, 6-4, in 74 minutes. The victory, secured on his first match point and with celebrity athletes Jimmy Butler, Neymar and Juan Martin del Potro watching, was the eighth straight for Alcaraz, who captured the Miami Open title in 2022.
⭐️WELCOME TO THE CARLOS ALCARAZ SHOW ⭐️@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen | @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/OqW0S9eDv3
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 26, 2024
“He’s a great athlete. He reaches almost every ball,” Alcaraz said of Monfils, in his on-court interview. “But at the same time, with my forehand, my best shot, I tried to move him around the court, tried to get him tired a little bit and give myself the chance to dominate the point, trying to go to the net and hitting my best shots.”
Alcaraz hit 12 winners to 16 unforced errors, while Monfils finished with 11 winners and 21 unforced errors. Alcaraz outpointed Monfils 57-37 to move on to the fourth round.
Next, Alcaraz will play No. 23 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, who eliminated No. 16 seed Ben Shelton of the United States, 6-4, 7-6 (5), in one hour and 52 minutes on Butch Buchholz Court. Shelton, hit 22 winners — six more than Mussetti — but was undone by 37 unforced errors. He was the last American to be eliminated from the men’s draw.
M🇮🇹U🇮🇹S🇮🇹E🇮🇹T🇮🇹T🇮🇹I @Lorenzo1Musetti reaches the fourth round at a Masters 1000 for the 8th time in his career, by taking out Shelton 6-4 7-6(5)! @MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/s9zqYO62pC
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 26, 2024
De Minaur sets rematch with Marozsan
The last time World No.10 Alex de Minaur faced Fabian Marozsan, the upstart Hungarian defeated the Australian No. 1 in straight sets in the second round at the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai, China last October.
“He’s definitely the favorite,” the ninth seed de Minaur said in his in-court interview after defeating No. 24 seed Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, 7-6 (3), 6-4, in an hour and 49 minutes, in which he struck 19 winners and outpointed his opponent 84-73. It was his third lifetime win over the German in five matches and his first win against Struff since breaking into the Top 10. The loss dropped Struff to 12-37 against Top-10 competition.
Demon on the rise in The Magic City @alexdeminaur sets up a fourth round clash against Marozsan, after seeing off Struff 7-6(3) 6-4.@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/vKiQAjU8nN
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 25, 2024
De Minaur won his ATP Tour-leading 19th match by being solid off the ground against No. 25 Struff. He’s now won nine of his last 10 matches going back to his recent title run in Acapulco and is through to his first round of 16 in Miami.
“It wasn’t going to be easy, super-tough conditions,” de Minaur admitted. “It’s tough to play perfect tennis today. I tried to keep my composure. I was able to get a little lucky during big points today. I’m happy to get the win.”
Meanwhile, the 57th-ranked Marozsan has now reached the fourth round of each ATP Masters 1000 he’s competed in. During his 92-minute victory over No. 45 Alexei Popyrin of Australia, Marozsan saved seven of eight break points he faced and outpointed his Australian opponent 72-63.
A happy Fabian ☺️
Marozsan makes the Round of 1⃣6⃣ with a 7-5 6-3 triumph over Popyrin @MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/R9gECvjUZ0
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 25, 2024
Miami Open remains most success 1000 event for Hurkacz
No. 8 seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland reached his third Miami Open fourth round in his fifth appearance following his 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-3 victory over No. 28 seed Sebastian Korda of the United States in two hours and 15 minutes on the Grandstand.
Hurkacz, who struck 15 aces and won 81 percent of his service points and was not broken, has accumulated 15 career victories at the Miami Open.
Victory for Hurkacz @HubertHurkacz reaches the fourth round after a close encounter with Korda 7-6(5) 6-7(5) 6-3 @MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/8EutsHmLIx
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 25, 2024
Next, Hurkacz will play No. 11 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, who needed just 46 minutes to eliminate No. 56 Yannick Hanfmann of Germany, 6-1, 6-0, for his 17th win of the season. Dimitrov dropped just two points on his first-serve and converted five of nine break-point opportunities. He outpointed his opponent 49-17.
Well, that was fast⚡@GrigorDimitrov dismantles Hanfmann 6-1 6-0 in just 46 minutes!⏱️@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/jkHDq4pLBK
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 26, 2024
Ankle injury to sideline Murray for many weeks
Andy Murray announced Monday evening that the ankle injury he sustained during his 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5) third-round loss to Tomas Machac on Sunday is serious and will likely sideline him from the ATP Tour for many weeks.
Wishing you a speedy recovery, @andy_murray — you’ve got this! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/SJAHJALsbc
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 25, 2024
“Yesterday towards the end of my match in Miami I suffered a full rupture of my ATFL and near full thickness rupture of my CFL,” Murray, 36, wrote on Instagram. “I will see an ankle specialist when I return home to determine next steps.
“Goes without saying this is a tough one to take and I’ll be out for an extended period. But I’ll be back with 1 hip and no ankle ligaments when the time is right.”
Murray, who turns 37 in May, has played in 996 career tour-level matches and compiled a 738-258 win-loss record. He’s won 46 titles, including three Grand Slams.
Around the Miami Open
Marcel Granollers alcanza una cifra mágica en su carrera sobre las pistas del @MiamiOpen. ¡Fantástico logro!#MiamiOpen
— ATP Tour en Español (@ATPTour_ES) March 25, 2024
It’s what they do ⭐️⭐️
Top seeds @rohanbopanna and @mattebden seal the deal against Zielinski/Nys 7-5 7-6(3) to reach the last eight in Miami. @MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/1zo2TJ1Byy
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 25, 2024
Team work makes the dream work
No. 3 seeds @joesalisbury92 and @RajeevRam move past Tsitsipas/Kokkinakis 7-5 7-6(4) to reach the quarter-finals in Miami! @MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/hefH700hbr
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 25, 2024
Tuesday’s Miami Open order of play
By the numbers
While Ben Shelton failed to reach back-to-back fourth rounds at ATP Masters 1000 events for the first time in his career, Lorenzo Musetti’s win over the American No. 3 meant the Italian would join compatriots Jannik Sinner and Matteo Arnaldi in the round of 16. It would mark just the fifth time three Italians had advanced to the fourth round of an ATP Masters 1000 event and the first time on hard courts.
“Quotable …”
“He got me last time, so I know exactly what to expect. He’s a hell of a player, he’s playing great and he’s super dangerous.”
— Alex de Minaur of Australia, describing his next opponent, Fabian Marozsan, during his on-court interview following his third-round win over Jan-Lennard Struff.
