Raonic, Kyrgios Lock In QF Clash
Raonic, Kyrgios Lock In QF Clash
Raonic holds 2-1 record against the Australian
Milos Raonic and Nick Kyrgios will duel it out for a place in their first Miami Open semi-final after both posted straight-sets victories in fourth-round action on Tuesday.
Raonic, the No. 12 seed, is through to his second straight ATP World Tour Masters 1000 quarter-final after romping to a 6-0, 6-3 victory over unseeded Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, while Kyrgios advanced 7-6(3), 6-3 over Russian Andrey Kuznetsov.
The 25-year-old Raonic dropped just six points on his first serve throughout, finishing with 11 aces. He never faced a break point in the 54-minute affair.
The result matches the Canadian’s best run in Miami; a quarter-final finish two years ago (l. Nadal). It continues an impressive start to his season in which he extends his record to 17-2, which includes a run to last week’s BNP Paribas Open final at Indian Wells.
Dzumhur, at No. 94 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, was one of six players making his Miami Open fourth-round debut. The 23 year old led No. 5 seed Nadal 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 before the Spaniard retired due to dizziness in the second round. It marked his first victory over a Top 10 opponent.
Kyrgios and Kuznetsov were also making their fourth-round Miami debuts but it was Kyrgios who would prevail on the back of 11 aces. The 20 year old becomes the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt to reach the quarter-finals in Miami 14 years ago and the youngest player to do so since Juan Martin del Potro in 2009.
The 25-year-old Kuznetsov had earlier downed No. 4 seed Stan Wawrinka in the second round and as a result of his fourth-round showing, will break into the Top 50 of the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday. Raonic will carry a 2-1 FedEx Head2Head lead into his clash with Kyrgios.