Wild card Nick Kyrgios and three of the ATP Miami Open’s top 10 seeds, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud and Cameron Norrie, posted straight-sets wins on Sunday in the Round of 32.
Kyrgios, the Australian who is ranked No. 102 in the world, defeated Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-4 in just over an hour. Kyrgios blasted 10 aces to just two for the 31st-seeded Fognini and converted three of five break points, while his opponent never had the chance.
After the match, Kyrgios, who is 7-2 this season, said he “wanted to keep the momentum going. As soon as I had break points, I wanted to take them. I served well and I am happy to be through. I am just returning well. My doubles has helped me a lot on my singles court. The way I am serving and returning is quite a sight to see.”
Kyrgios next will play ninth-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy, who survived a three-plus hour match with the 17th seed, Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5.
“I haven’t played Sinner before. I was supposed to play him last week in the fourth round, he pulled out, so I think the way he’s playing, he’s actually one of my favorite young guns, he hits huge off of both wings, extremely confident, big-game style,” Kyrgios said. “I think Sinner is going to do some pretty special things in this sport.”
Sinner, who recorded 15 aces to three for Carreno Busta, had to fight off four match points to square the third set at 5-5, then broke Carreno Busto to take the lead. He held serve to claim the match.
Zverev, of Germany, the tournament’s second seed and the world’s fourth-ranked player, defeated Mackenzie McDonald of the U.S. 6-2, 6-2.
Zverev next will face Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia, who defeated fellow qualifier Denis Kudla of the U.S. in a match that approached three hours, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4).
After his match, Zverev said he was “happy to be finding my rhythm a little bit. I’m happy with getting easier wins, as well. Just generally happy to be in the fourth round. I think the tournament is going to get tougher from here, but I’m ready.”
Ruud, the sixth seed from Norway, dispatched the 30th seed, Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, 6-3, 6-2. Ruud broke away from a 3-3 tie to win the first set, and then won the first four games of the second set before closing out the match in 61 minutes.
Ruud will next play Norrie, the 10th seed from Great Britain, who had a tougher time but eventually defeated France’s Hugo Gaston, 6-3, 7-5.
Norrie led the second set 5-3 and failed to capitalize on five match points as Gaston climbed to within 5-4. Gaston then broke serve to tie the set, but Norrie broke back to take the lead and held serve to finish off the match in just short of two hours.
“It was one of those days where it was tough to close it out. I was a little bit stressed there,” Norrie said.
Also winning was the 28th seed, Frances Tiafoe of the U.S., who handled Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina 6-3, 6-2. Tiafoe’s next opponent will be Cerundolo’s brother, Francisco Cerundolo, who defeated Gael Monfils of France, the 22nd seed, 6-2, 6-3.
–Field Level Media
