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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Barty, Medvedev march on in Miami

Barty, Medvedev march on in Miami

Published Mar 31, 2021 09:13 am
Ashleigh Barty of Australia returns a shot to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Photo by Michael Reaves / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

World number one Ashleigh Barty advanced to the semifinals of the Miami Open on Tuesday as Russian top seed Daniil Medvedev booked his place in the quarterfinals of the men's tournament.

Barty battled through her third three-setter of the fortnight to oust seventh seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in 2hr 16min on the Grandstand Court.

The Australian will face either Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova or Elina Svitolina of Ukraine following her gruelling 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win.

After taking a close first set, Barty appeared to be on the brink of victory after grabbing a 3-1 lead in the second set tie-break.

Sabalenka staged a superb recovery however to snatch the tie-break 7-5, forcing a decisive third set.

Barty regrouped in the third though and with Sabalenka clearly in pain clutching her stomach, rammed home her advantage to complete a deserved win.

The victory leaves Barty one semifinal win away from retaining her world number one ranking, though the Australian insisted she was not preoccupied with holding on to top spot.

"It's an amazing thing to be No. 1 in the world at the moment, but I promise you that's not what makes me happy," Barty said afterwards.

"It's a focus of course. I want to try to do the best that I can, but it's not a distraction or a pressure in any way."

Medvedev downs Tiafoe

Medvedev meanwhile had an easier ride in the men's tournament on Tuesday, easing past Frances Tiafoe of the United States in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.

Medvedev hammered down 11 aces in the win, breaking Tiafoe three times en route to victory.

Medvedev will face Roberto Bautista Agut in the last eight after the Spaniard eliminated John Isner in three sets to avenge his 2019 quarterfinal loss in Miami.

Bautista Agut saved a match point at 5-6 down in the third set tie-break to claim a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) win.

"John is a good friend on the Tour. He always makes matches difficult," said Bautista Agut. "He has a very big serve and a lot of power from baseline with the forehand. It makes it always difficult."

Against Isner on Tuesday, Bautista Agut reaped the rewards from attacking Isner's second serve to claim the first set.

Isner turned the tables to level in the second set, and appeared to have the momentum after taking a 3-0 lead in the final set tie-break.

However Bautista Agut dug in and saved a match point with a blistering forehand. Another forehand then forced an error from Isner at match point to send the Spaniard into the last eight.

"I think I played a brilliant set the first set, and then with John you feel always under pressure," Bautista Agut said. "It was a really tough fight until the last point."

In other last 16 matches on Tuesday, Italy's 21st-seeded Jannik Sinner downed Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the last eight.

It is the first time the 19-year-old has reached the quarter-finals of an ATP Masters event.

"For me it means a lot," Sinner said. "The first goal is always trying to improve day after day, going on practice courts and then when you have sometimes good results, it makes you happy."

Sinner will play 32nd seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals. Bublik advanced to the last eight with a 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4 win over 22nd-seeded Taylor Fritz of the United States.

Elsewhere, Polish 26th seed Hubert Hurkacz upset Canada's 12th-seeded Milos Raonic 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to advance.

Related Tags

Ashleigh Barty Daniil Medvedev Miami Open
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