Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alex de Minaur every maintain match factors however are unable to transform in respective second-round matches in Miami.
Miami, USA , 26 March 2023 | Vivienne Christie
Whereas the data will present that Thanasi Kokkinakis exited within the second spherical of the 2023 Miami Open, it gained’t fairly inform the story of the battle proven by the Australian on the ATP Masters 1000 event.
After making his approach into the primary draw as a fortunate loser, the 94th-ranked Kokkinakis saved three match factors in opposition to Zizou Bergs to set a second spherical conflict with No.8 seed Hubert Hurkacz.
The 26-year-old from Adelaide was as soon as once more at his combating greatest early within the intriguing encounter, saving six set factors as he took a 7-6(10) lead in opposition to his top-10 opponent.
Particular Okay scenes 👀
Six set factors saved, @TKokkinakis launches 7-6(10) up on 2021 champion Hurkacz@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/cKwKdtSfRW
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 25, 2023
It continues a convention of robust performances for Kokkinakis in Miami, the place he shocked then-No.1 Roger Federer within the 2018 second spherical. Final 12 months, he progressed to the fourth spherical as a qualifier.
Helped by spectacular aggression – Kokkinakis firing 45 winners, together with 23 aces throughout at present’s three-and-a-half hour encounter – the South Australian held three match factors within the second-set tiebeak, however was pushed to a 3rd when the decided Hurkacz launched a restoration.
The 26-year-old from Poland was runner-up to Jannik Sinner on the 2021 Miami Open, and was maybe helped by these recollections as he maintained focus within the tense contest.
After Hurkacz took the second set in simply over an hour, the match progressed to a different tiebreak.
At a essential juncture, Kokkinakis took management with decisive and attacking tennis. An enormous second serve arrange a fourth match level – however Hurkacz saved that, and one other, earlier than lastly serving out a 6-7(10) 7-6(9) 7-6(6) victory.
Earlier, Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur exited the Miami Open after an absorbing battle with Frenchman Quentin Halys.
De Minaur held two match factors within the third set tiebreak, and in addition saved certainly one of his personal, earlier than Halys lastly secured a 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 7-6(8) victory on his second match level.
The world No.79-ranked Halys required three hours and 18 minutes to say his come-from-behind win.
Halys in Wonderland 🧚♂️@QuentinHalys comes again from the brink to take out De Minaur 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 7-6(8) and attain his maiden Masters 1000 third spherical!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/uFJeHPJ5LR
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 25, 2023
The Frenchman’s spectacular victory was helped by a dominant serving show, with 21 aces amongst his 57 whole winners.
It follows a fluctuating interval for De Minaur, who claimed a seventh ATP title in Acapulco final month, however exited to Marton Fucsovics in his opening match at Indian Wells.
There was higher information for John Friends in doubles, because the Australian mixed with Brazilian Marcelo Melo to defeat US wildcards Marcos Giron and J.J. Wolf within the first spherical.
Matt Ebden and Indian associate Rohan Bopanna had been unable to take care of the shape that noticed them seize final week’s Indian Wells title, the pair falling to Kevin Krawietz and Fabrice Martin in Miami’s opening spherical.
Aussies in motion – Miami
TODAY’S RESULTS
Males’s singles, second spherical
Quentin Halys (FRA) d [15] Alex de Minaur (AUS) 6-7(5)) 7-6(3) 7-6(8)
[8] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) d [LL] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 6-7(10) 7-6(9) 7-6(6
Males’s doubles, first spherical
Kevin Krawietz (GER)/Fabrice Martin (FRA) d [6] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) 7-5 4-6 [10-4]
John Friends (AUS)/Marcelo Melo (BRA) v [WC] Marcos Giron (USA)/J.J. Wolf (USA) 6-4 7-6(5).
COMING UP
Males’s doubles, first spherical
John Friends (AUS)/Marcelo Melo (BRA) v [8] Hugo Nys (MCO)/Jan Zielinski (POL)
Ladies’s doubles, second spherical
[6] Storm Hunter (AUS)/Elise Mertens (BEL) v Monica Niculescu (ROU)/Alicja Rosolska (POL)
[8] Ellen Perez (AUS)/Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) v TBC
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