Daniil Medvedev closes in on No. 1 ranking; Naomi Osaka to Miami semis

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.

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.”