Coric Prevails In #NextGenATP Miami Marathons

The #NextGenATP contingent at the Miami Open presented by Itau have been embroiled in marathon first-round matches on Thursday.

Borna Coric remains unbeaten against World No. 41 Marcel Granollers in their FedEx ATP Head2Head at 3-0, following a gruelling two hours and 51 minutes victory. The Croatian won their last encounter in three sets at the 2016 Aircel Chennai Open and required another deciding set in Miami during a 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3 win.

However, two #NextGenATP players fell to narrow defeats in deciding tie-breaks. Diego Schwartzman moved into the second round of the Miami Open for the first time, but he needed two-and-a-half-hours to navigate past Karen Khachanov 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4). The Argentine will next face 2013 finalist David Ferrer.

South Korean Hyeon Chung was edged 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(1) by World No. 66 Damir Dzumhur, whose reward is a second round match against Nick Kyrgios.

 Watch Full Match Replays

In contrast, Andrey Rublev needed only 44 minutes to dismiss World No. 46 Florian Mayer 6-1, 6-1. The #NextGenATP teenager won 90 per cent of points on first serve to book a match against 2010 Miami finalist Tomas Berdych.

#NextGenATP qualifier Frances Tiafoe defeated Konstantin Kravchuk for the second time in a fortnight. The American won in the first round of the Irving Challenger last week, and despite squandering two match points, was able to complete a 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 triumph in Miami. The 19 year old will next face two-time champion Roger Federer on Saturday.

#NextGenATP German Alexander Zverev will tackle the challenge presented by Yen-Hsun Lu in the second round after he ousted Casper Ruud 6-2, 6-1 earlier on Thursday.