Highlights:
- Tommy Paul was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.
- In the quarterfinals, Alcaraz will compete against Taylor Fritz.
- After seven meetings, Karen Khachanov defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas for the first time.
After a setback due to injury, world number one Carlos Alcaraz maintained his remarkable run by defeating Tommy Paul of the USA in the Miami Open’s Round of 16. In 1 hour and 36 minutes, Alcaraz defeated the opponent 6-0, 7-6 (7-5).
In the same way that Elena Rybakina overcame Martina Trevisan, Alcaraz maintained his hope for Sunshine Double. Alcaraz will now compete against Taylor Fritz on March 30 in the round. Moreover, it was his tenth straight victory on the ATP circuit.
Till now, Alcaraz has dominated over Paul in three games. The 19-year-old Spaniard will become the youngest winner of the Sunshine Double if he wins at the Miami Open.
Alcaraz said, “I played a really great match and I hope to play the same level in the quarter-final. I moved well and defended well and I counter-attacked and I think if I play at that same level I will have a lot of chances to get through.”
Defying opponents, defying physics ??@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen | @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/XDoF2BppR3
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 28, 2023
The second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a shocking loss to Karen Khachanov earlier in the day. Khachanov won the match 7-6 (4), 6-4, in one hour and 32 minutes.
As Khachanov had fallen short in each of his previous six meetings with Tsitsipas, the odds were heavily stacked against him going into the match. Out of six championships at the tour level, Khachanov also advanced to the quarterfinals four times.
“I think [restricting Tsitsipas] was the key. Both of us were serving pretty well in the first setâ€ae Then I took it to the tie-break, and in the second set as soon as the opportunity came, I had to take it,” Khachanov said after the match.
Read | 30 Interesting Tennis Facts That Will Astonish You
“I believe the solution lay in limiting Tsitsipas. In the first set, we were both serving fairly effectively. When the chance arose in the second set, I had to grab it as soon as it presented itself, Khachanov said following the game. I later took it to the tie-break.
The next opponent for Khachanov is either Lorenzo Sonego or Francisco Cerundolo.