IMAGE: Carlos Alcaraz fired off 26 winners in a near-flawless efficiency in his third spherical match in opposition to Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic at the 2023 Miami Open on Sunday. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz swatted apart Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-0, 7-6(5)to maintain his title protection on monitor at the Miami Open on Sunday, as Canadian Bianca Andreescu cruised previous American Sofia Kenin in straight units.
Spain’s teen phenom received Indian Wells to retake the highest rating final week and saved the momentum going at Hard Rock Stadium as he fired off 26 winners to arrange a fourth-round assembly with Australian Open semi-finalist Tommy Paul.
“I at all times assume that you must go for it,” he informed the Tennis Channel after the match. “That’s what I informed myself in (these) powerful moments.”
Lajovic shocked three-times Grand Slam winner Andy Murray within the first spherical however by no means hit his stride on Sunday, letting his solely break level likelihood slip by way of his fingers within the first set because the US Open winner placed on a near-flawless efficiency.
IMAGE: Carlos Alcaraz celebrates successful some extent in opposition to Dusan Lajovic. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Alcaraz transformed on a break level within the third recreation of the second set with an expertly positioned forehand winner however helped his opponent to a break within the tenth recreation with a handful of uncharacteristic errors.
Lajovic refused to go down with out a combat, keeping off three match factors within the tiebreak. But Alcaraz by no means misplaced his nerve and clinched it with a blistering backhand winner earlier than pumping his fist triumphantly.
“Everything was underneath management,” mentioned Alcaraz, who greeted the Miami Heat’s six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler courtside after the match.
“But finish of match isn’t straightforward. The nerves got here out. I made a couple of errors that I did not do round the entire match. So it was powerful to win.”
IMAGE: Bianca Andreescu celebrates successful the third spherical match in opposition to Sofia Kenin of the US. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Former US Open champion Andreescu harnessed her mighty serve to topple Kenin 6-4, 6-4, sending over seven aces because the 2020 Australian Open winner didn’t mount a lot of a protection after an early exit from Indian Wells.
The swift affair was welcome reprieve for Andreescu after prolonged battles in opposition to first- and second-round opponents Emma Raducanu of Britain and World No 10, Greek Maria Sakkari, with Ekaterina Alexandrova ready within the spherical of 16.
“I positively benefit from the problem,” she mentioned in a televised interview. “These victories are positively very candy and I’ve had many powerful matches in opposition to Sofia.”
IMAGE: Denmark’s Holger Rune despatched over seven aces and 27 winners to beat Argentine Diego Schwartzman. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Earlier on Sunday, Denmark’s Holger Rune despatched over seven aces and 27 winners to cease Argentine Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 6-2. The seventh seed subsequent faces American Taylor Fritz for the primary time within the fourth spherical.
Later on Sunday, second-seeded Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka performs thirty first seed Marie Bouzkova and final yr’s twice Grand Slam runner-up Casper Ruud, seeded third, performs the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp.
