the russian Daniel Medvedev and the polish Hubert Hurkacz reigned this Saturday in the chaos of the Miami tournament, in a day marked by marathons, surprises and epic comebacks.
apart from the greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was planted in the third round without playing due to the withdrawal of the French Richard Gasquetthe one who had to work the least to advance in the round was Medvedev, who overwhelmed the Spanish 6-1 and 6-2 in 62 minutes Roberto Carballes to date the slovakian Alex Molcan in the third round.
Instead, Hurkacz, champion in 2021, won a battle of more than three and a half hours against the Australian Thanasis Kokkinakis after annulling four match balls.
The Pole triumphed 6-7(10), 7-6(7) and 7-6(6), after annulling two match points in the second set tiebreaker and another two in the third set, in a duel marked by Spectacular shots by both players.
In particular, Hurkacz annulled a match point with a backhand return that astonished Kokkinakis himself, incredulous at the level of the Pole’s blow.
Another epic battle was carried out by the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime and the brazilian Thiago Monteirowith the world number 6 who won 7-6(5) and 7-6(8) in two hours and 41 minutes.
“I had never played two sets that long”, recognized Auger Aliassime at the end of the game. He now awaits a third round clash with the Argentine Francisco Cerundolowho won the American Alexander Kovacevic.
And if that was not enough, Frances Tiafoea semifinalist last year at the US Open, had to come back to win 6-7(5), 7-6(3) and 6-4 against Japan Youske Watanuki (n.123).
The Japanese played extraordinary tennis and put on a magnificent show, before giving up after disallowing as many as six match points in favor of Tiafoe.
(With information from EFE)