For up-and-comers tennis like Stefanos Tsitsipas, the draw at the Miami Open started to look a lot more intimidating even before the tournament started.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer withdrew due to injuries, and Novak Djokovic decided not to make the trip from his native Serbia. They stayed home with their 58 Grand Slam awards.
“It’s the first test to see how he plays without them,” Tsitsipas said after Saturday’s third-round victory. “There will be a time in the future where this is going to happen more and more often, and perhaps even status soon. So, yes, we can get a taste of how he plays without them. ”
The No. 2 seeded Tsitsipas is among those with the best chance to take advantage, and watched the part against Damir Dzumhur, winning 6-1, 6-4.
Recorded at a career-high 5, Tsitsipas improved to 15-4 this year – and 2-3 lives against Dzumhur. The 22-year-old Greek used his service to take control of Dzumhur, who was never at rest.
“I created a lot of opportunities with my service – I was in no hurry, finding the right angles and implementing it perfectly,” Tsitsipas said. “Even with my second service I felt like I did a lot of damage, not allowing him to push first and put pressure on him with his pictures. ”
Tsitsipas will face No. 28 Kei Nishikori, who defeated Aljaz Bedene 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-4.
Two other title contestants, No. 4 Andrey Rublev and No. 6 Denis Shapovalov, advanced in night games.
Rublev failed to convert three game points in the final game and then had to sit for an hour-long rain delay before shutting down his victory over Tennys Sandgren, 6-1, 6-2. Shapovalov also suffered a water break in the third set before finishing Ilya Ivashka 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4.
Marin Cilic rallied to edge No. 13 Cristian Garin 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5).
In the women’s play, top-seeded Ash Barty and three-time champion Victoria Azarenka advanced to a round of 16 performances.
Barty defeated Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 and had a much easier time than in the previous round, when she saved a maids point to beat Kristina Kucova. It was Barty’s first game away from Australia originally since February 2020.
She kept Ostapenko on the move and defending, pulling in the French Open superstar and moving him from side to side.
Barty is the defensive champion as the 2019 winner. The competition was postponed last year at the start of a pandemic coronavirus infection.
The 14-seed Azarenka defeated No. 24 Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-2. The game was Azarenka’s first this week after a blessing and a walk. She won Miami in 2009, 2011 and 2016.
Simona Halep drew No. 3-seeded out before her third-round game due to an injury to her right shoulder.
Ana Konjuh’s wild card upset No. 15 Iga Swiatek. Konjuh’s career has been slow with four surgeries, and this week she has won her first three awards in a major draw WTA play since 2018.
“It’s been a disappointment in the last few years, just being through those surgeries and efforts and just not getting it right,” Konjuh said. “So just to be back, you know, healthy and to be competitive at this level, it means a lot.”
No. 5 Elina Svitolina eliminated No. 30 Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (1), 6-4, and no. 7 Aryna Sabalenka ousted No. 32 Veronika Kudermetova 7-6 (4), 6-4.