Sports
Daniil Medvedev closes in on No. 1 ranking; Naomi Osaka to Miami semis
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Daniil Medvedev is one win away from returning to No. 1. And Naomi Osaka is 2 wins away from being a match champion once more.
Shaking off a sluggish begin, the top-seeded Medvedev reached the quarterfinals of the Miami Open on Tuesday by defeating Jenson Brooksby of the U.S. 7-5, 6-1.
Medvedev has but to drop a set in his three Miami matches. He’ll face No. 8 seed and defending Miami champion Hubert Hurkacz within the quarters — and if Medvedev prevails there, he’ll be assured of supplanting Novak Djokovic and returning to No. 1 on this planet.
“I’m not the type of man who’s going to say, ‘Yeah, I’m the perfect,’” Medvedev mentioned.
Daniil Medvedev of Russia returns a shot from Jenson Brooksby, in the course of the Miami Open tennis match, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
(AP Picture/Wilfredo Lee)
The pc would possibly say it for him quickly sufficient. The Russian held the No. 1 rating briefly, misplaced it to Djokovic once more a couple of week in the past and is now closing in on capturing it once more.
Brooksby jumped out to a direct lead, breaking Medvedev’s first service recreation and wound up serving for the primary set — two factors away at 5-4, 30-15.
It was all Medvedev from there.
Medvedev gained 11 of the remaining 13 factors within the set, breaking Brooksby to tie it up, holding at love for 6-5 after which breaking once more to complete off the 7-5 win. The second set was by no means unsure, with Medvedev working out to a 3-0 lead and successful 16 of the 19 factors performed on his serve.
“Jenson has the potential to be a high participant,” Medvedev mentioned. “While you say high, you by no means know — No. 1, No. 3 or No. 10 — however he’s a extremely good participant and I believe he’s taking part in higher than his rating.”
Hurkacz prevailed over Harris 7-6 (3), 6-2 and improved to 11-1 all-time in Miami.
No. 2 Alexander Zverev of Germany and No. 6 Casper Ruud of Norway will meet in one other quarterfinal. Zverev beat Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia 6-4, 6-4, whereas Ruud ousted Tenth-seeded Cameron Norrie of Britain 6-3, 6-4.
No. 9 Jannik Sinner of Italy additionally superior, beating Nick Kyrgios of Australia 7-6 (3), 6-3. Kyrgios was docked some extent, after which a recreation, for outbursts.
Sinner will play Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina within the quarterfinals. Cerundolo beat No. 28 Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3) on Tuesday — avenging Tiafoe’s win within the third spherical over his brother, Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
And the fourth males’s quarterfinal will see No. 14 Carlos Alcaraz towards unseeded Miomir Kecmanovic — each of whom pulled off upsets Tuesday. Alcaraz beat No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-3. Kecmanovic ousted No. 13 Taylor Fritz within the nightcap, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
In girls’s quarterfinal play, the unseeded Osaka — who hasn’t gained a match because the 2021 Australian Open — made fast work of No. 9 Danielle Collins of the U.S. The previous world No. 1 wanted solely an hour to overpower Collins 6-2, 6-1 and make the Miami semifinals for the primary time.
“That is my childhood match and I’d like to win right here,” mentioned Osaka, who spent a part of her youth residing in South Florida. “I’ve bought to take it one spherical at a time.”
Collins — who has been coping with neck ache — wanted a medical timeout in the course of the match.
“She’s a fighter,” Osaka mentioned. “She fought via the match.”
Subsequent up for Osaka: No. 22 Belinda Bencic, who, like Osaka, continued her roll via the match.
Bencic hasn’t confronted a seeded participant but and hasn’t come near dropping a set, making the semifinals with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Daria Saville.
Bencic has gained 48 of the 65 video games she’s performed within the match.
“I’m actually joyful I reached an amazing consequence right here,” Bencic mentioned. “The whole lot else is a bonus.”