Novak Djokovic cruised into the quarter-finals of the Miami Open on Tuesday with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Italian Lorenzo Musetti in a single hour 22 minutes.
Musetti, the fifteenth seed from Tuscany, obtained off to a flying begin to take a 2-0 lead within the first set however then proceeded to lose the subsequent 9 video games because the Serb, trying assured and sharp, ran away with the sport.
Djokovic has received the Miami Open on six events however has not featured within the quarters since his final victory right here in 2016.
The 37-year-old is now simply three wins away from profitable his one hundredth tour-level title.
“He had a extremely good begin of the match. First couple video games I began a bit bit gradual after which I knew that if I give him time, he’s going to make his pictures,” Djokovic stated.
“He loves form of operating round his backhand, hitting forehands. However he’s so gifted, he can play any shot within the recreation on any floor.
“It was powerful, significantly within the first seven, eight video games of the match. However I feel breaking his serve to return again to two-all and break straight away at 3-2, it was a momentum shift and I attempted to make use of that,” he added.
Djokovic will face American Sebastian Korda on Wednesday for a spot within the semi-finals after the twenty fourth seed beat French veteran Gael Monfils 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a rain-affected match.
Korda visibly struggled together with his wrist, nevertheless, and stated after the match that he had been in discomfort with an damage that has triggered him bother up to now.
“It’s fairly painful proper now, we’ll see the way it goes tomorrow. Will do loads of work with my physio now, we’ll see how it’s tomorrow.
“I haven’t performed loads of tournaments this yr. Hopefully I can play some good tennis and see the place it takes me,” he stated.
Korda later pulled out of his doubles match with companion Jordan Thompson.
– Argentine assist –
Argentine Francisco Cerundolo upset fifth-seed Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-2 to take his place within the final eight.
Cerundolo, who enjoys loads of assist from South Florida’s massive Argentine neighborhood, has now reached the final eight in three of his previous 4 appearances at Miami.
Cerundolo did not benefit from three break factors within the opening recreation however ultimately broke via at 3-3, changing his fourth break level of that recreation.
The twenty third seed, who misplaced to Carlos Alcaraz within the quarter-finals at Indian Wells, was dominant within the second set, however his victory was postponed by a three-hour, 30-minute rain delay that arrived when he was 5-1 up.
“I’m tremendous blissful. It’s at all times troublesome once you’re taking part in a extremely good match, controlling the sport, and it’s a must to cease for rain,” stated Cerundolo.
“It’s not straightforward, however I used to be chill and got here again to the match assured and performed a extremely good service recreation. I’m tremendous blissful to get back-to-back Masters 1000 quarter-finals within the US, on laborious courts. It’s a terrific achievement,” he stated.
Subsequent up for Cerundolo is 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov, who defeated American Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 7-5.
A day after an exciting three-set win over Brazilian Joao Fonseca, Australia’s Alex de Minaur was eradicated by tenth-seed Italian Matteo Berrettini who triumphed 6-3, 7-6 (9/7).
Berrettini had the prospect to shut out the match when serving at 6-5 however let three match factors slip and the match went right into a tie-break.
De Minaur then had a terrific likelihood to drive a deciding set when he was 6/3 up however was unable to transform the three set factors and Berrettini was in a position to claw again victory.
The Italian will face third-seed Taylor Fritz who progressed with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Australia fortunate loser Adam Walton.
The rain delay meant that top-seed Alexander Zverev’s fourth-round match towards France’s Arthur Fils has been postponed till Wednesday.
