World number one Ashley Barty reached the semifinals of the Miami Open on Tuesday as Russian top seed Daniel Medvedev booked his place in the quarter-finals of the men’s tournament. Barty battled through his third three-setter of the fortnight to knock out seventh seed Arya Sabalenka of Belarus in 2hr 16min on Grandstand Court. The Australian will face her in the semi-finals with a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win over Alina Svitolina of Ukraine. Fifth seeded Svitolina beat Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova 6–3, 6–2 to enter the final four on Tuesday.
After taking a close first set, Barty went on the verge of victory after securing a 3–1 lead in the second set tie-break.
Sabalenka, however, made a brilliant comeback to make the tie-break 7-5, entering the decisive third set.
Barty raced again in the third and was clearly home to Sabalenka’s stomach ache, helping her to a deserved victory.
The win gives Barty a semi-final win, which retains her world number one ranking, although the Australian insisted that it was not before she took the top spot.
Barty continued, “It’s a surprising thing to become number 1 in the world, but I promise you that is not what makes me happy.”
“It’s definitely the focus. I want to try to do the best I can, but it’s not a distraction or pressure by any means.”
– Medvedev Down Tiafoe –
Meanwhile, Medvedev took an easy ride in the men’s tournament, outscoring United States Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-3 in the straight tournament.
Medvedev hit 11 aces in the win, breaking Tiafoe three times for the win.
Medvedev will take on Roberto Bautista Agut in the final eight after Spaniard wiped out John Isner in three sets to avenge the 2019 quarter-final loss in Miami.
Batista Agut claimed a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory in the third set tie-break, 5-6.
“I think I played a great set in the first set, and then with John you always feel under pressure,” said Bautista Agut. “It was a very tough fight until the last point.”
World number 87 Sebastian Korda won by beating Argentine fifth seed Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
“I played an incredible match today,” said Korda, a Florida-born son of former Australian Open champion Petre Korda.
“I think mentally I was very good there. I remained calm. Even when in tight conditions I believed in myself and I went for it,” the 20-year-old said.
Korda will face fourth seed Andre Rublev of Russia in the final eight. Rubel reached the quarters with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Marin Cilic.
In the other final 16 matches on Tuesday, Italy’s 21st seed Janik Sinar defeated Finland’s Emil Rusuwori 6-3, 6-2 to enter the final eight.
This is the first time the 19-year-old has reached the quarter-finals of the ATP Masters event.
“It means a lot to me,” Sinner said. “The first goal is to always try to improve from day to day, go to practice courts and then when you have good results sometimes, it makes you happy.”
Promoted
Queener will play 32nd seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals. Bublik went on to finish 22nd-seeded Taylor Fritz of the United States in the final eight with 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4.
Elsewhere, Polish 26th seed Hubert Herczakz defeated 12th seed Milos Raonic of Canada 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) with second seed Stephanos Tsitipas 6-2, 7 6 beat 6 (7/2) victorious over Lorenzo Songo of Italy.
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