Alcaraz Stays Hot With First Miami Win

  • Posted: Mar 27, 2022

Alcaraz Stays Hot With First Miami Win

Mar272022

Harris upsets 12th seed Shapovalov

Fresh off his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final in Indian Wells, Carlos Alcaraz completed another first Saturday at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

The 18-year-old Spaniard scored his maiden win at the South Florida event with a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 result over Marton Fucsovics. The men entered the match trending in opposite directions in the ATP Rankings, and the result bore that out as Alcaraz continued his red-hot form.

At a career-high of World No. 16, the youngster controlled the opening set after an early break. Fucsovics, the World No. 55, made his charge early in the second. A marathon three game stretch decided the contest, with all three going the way of the 14th seed.

After battling through two deuces to break for 2-1, Alcaraz saved three break points to consolidate. Those were the only break points he faced in the match, and he added further cushion by breaking in a five-deuce game for 4-1.

The Spaniard sets up a meeting with 21st seed Marin Cilic, a 6-0, 6-3 winner over Alexei Popyrin.

Prior to the Alcaraz match on Court Butch Buchholz, South Africa’s Lloyd Harris scored a 6-3, 6-4 upset win over 12th seed Denis Shapovalov. The 25-year-old beat Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis in the first round in both Indian Wells and Miami, but was stopped at the second hurdle in the desert by Matteo Berrettini.

This time, he got past his first seeded opponent behind five service breaks. Shapovalov levelled both sets after falling behind early, but surrendered serve in the final game of each stanza. Harris finished the job on his third match point as the Canadian served to stay in the match

In Daniil Medvedev’s quarter atop the Miami draw, Harris will take on Yoshihito Nishioka in the third round. The Japanese has progressed with a pair of three-set wins, including a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 result over Daniel Evans earlier on Saturday.

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