Top seed Daniel Medvedev crashed out of the Miami Open on Wednesday, with Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka crashing out of the quarter-finals. Seventh seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut defeated Medvedev 6-4, 6-2, his third win in several meetings in the Russians, who was runner-up to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open and reached number 2 in the world. His victory in Marseille in March. Women’s world No. 2 Osaka – finished second in the prestigious ATP Masters and WTA hardcourt tournament after top-ranked Ashley Barty – had already won 6-6. 0, 6-4 loss to Maria Sakkari of Greece.
Bautista made the semi-final show down with 19-year-old Italian Janik Sinar, the world’s number 31 player beating Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
Sakari will face eighth-seeded Canadian Bianca Andreescu for a place in the women’s final.
Andriescu, ranked ninth in the world, won the Spaniard Sara Soribes Tormo, finishing 58th with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory.
Osaka, playing her first tournament since winning her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, won just eight points in the first set as she failed to win a single winner.
Osaka made a dent in the second game of the second set to take a 3–0 lead before Sakari returned for a win that ended Osaka’s chance to beat Australia’s Barty – who had already made the semi-finals. Made it to the world rankings – this week in the world rankings.
Osaka admitted that the ranking race impressed him against Greece’s 25th ranked Sakkari.
“The last time I was in this (press conference) seat, I wasn’t really thinking about the rankings at all, but someone asked me that question, so I started doing a lot about it.
Osaka said, “It may be that it reluctantly pressures itself. But I feel that even if it did, I should be able to rise above it.”
Osaka had not fallen a set in love since their previous defeat, which came in a Fed Cup match in February 2020.
“This year has the most wins so far, so he is in great form – it means a lot to me,” said Sakri, who let loose a scream of joy after the final point.
“To be lethally honest, I played a little tight in the first two games of the second set,” said Sakari, who had saved six match points in a fourth-round win over American Jessica Pegula.
“I stayed within myself and started fighting back, hitting a few more balls and winning some points against him.”
– Andriscu Out Sorribes –
Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion, tried to work his way back this year after missing 15 months of injury, giving Souribris a run of eight straight service breaks in the final game of the opening set.
Andreescu was troubled by an early-time violation in the second set, with Sorbis serving only for a 5–3 lead in the set – enough edge to level the match.
During a 3–2 break in the third, Andriescu saved three break points, breaking Soribes again to give up his own serve, but eventually sealed it from the line at his second match point with a stinging backhand gave.
“He is an incredible fighter,” Andreescu said. “I don’t know which way I pushed, but I struggled as hard as I could and I’m super happy.”
Bautista went into his conflict with Medvedev in the belief of two prior victories over the Russian, and once again he had the winning formula.
“I want to give all the credit to Daniel, I know that he is one of the best players in the world,” said Bottista. “He is winning a lot of matches, he is number 2 in the world, so I am very happy and proud to have played today. I think I have shown a great level on the court.”
The Spaniard got the first break of a tense opening set for a 5-4 lead, then saved a break point to pocket the set on the second chance.
He broke Medvedev to open the second set, and the Russian did not leave a comeback, unable to convert two break points before leaving his serve again to fall behind 4–1.
Bautista completed the match in a no-nones style with a love game after an hour and 32 minutes.
Against Sinner, he will look to avenge a three-set defeat in the third round in Dubai.
Promoted
Sinner handled everything on Wednesday, with Bubble thrown to him – a 105mph forehand return to serve an underhand serve.
In the end the Italian’s 28 forehand winners were too many to book a semi-final berth in their third Masters 1000 appearance.
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