ATP Miami: Jannik Sinner wins thriller, Daniil Medvedev beats Alexei Popyrin
Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev have bought their round of 16 ticket at the ATP Masters 1000 event. Even though the two shooting stars of tennis had to work hard for their success.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Mar 29, 2021, 12:15 am
Jannik Sinner versus Karen Khachanov. Despite the South Tyrolean's young age, this match-up is already an absolute guarantee for real thrillers on the tennis court. The first two duels between the two not only had to be decided in the decisive set, no, in each case a tie-break had to decide whether to win or lose.
The clash at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, where Sinner and Khachanov were supposed to meet in round three, was the clearest matter in this Italian-Russian international match so far. And that despite the fact that Sinner and Khachanov actually fought for almost three hours in the USA. Sinner needed exactly two hours and 50 minutes for a feat of strength that the 19-year-old needed to convert a 4: 6 into a 4: 6, 7: 6 (2) and 6: 4 success. In the round of 16, the South Tyrolean is now waiting for the winner of the clash between Emil Ruusuvuori and Mikael Ymer.
Medvedev has to fight
Also in the round of 16 is the big favorite for the title in Miami, world number two Daniil Medvedev. The Russian, who was to face Australian Alexei Popyrin in lap three, also had to work hard for his success. Because Popyrin, who won the tournament for the first time on the ATP tour at the beginning of the year, presented himself in this third round duel from the start at eye level with the big favorite and forced Medvedev into the tie-break thanks to a strong service performance in round one. In this, however, the Russian lived up to his role as a favorite and set 7: 3 to 1: 0 sets.
That should give the world number two a little motivational boost. Medvedev made the early break in round two and quickly moved away to 4-1. Up to the score of 5: 3, when the world number two was already serving on the match win, this match looked like it was decided. But then the Russian played an extremely sloppy service game, Popyrin sensed the chance and managed the rebreak after two sensational returns to zero.
For a few moments it looked again as if this third round duel would come to an end sooner or later. Medvedev was wide awake in the following service game, benefited from a short period of weakness from Popyrin and found three match points at 0:40 - which his Australian counterpart was able to destroy and, accompanied by loud come-on calls, equalized to 5: 5.
Struff out, Isner beats Auger-Aliassime
As a result, Medvedev had regained his sovereignty on his own serve and Popyrin didn't let anything go in the second round. Minutes later it was another tiebreaker that had to bring the decision in this second set. In this, the Australian was able to take full advantage of the momentum, winning two set balls, of which he knew how to use the second with a wonderful inside-out forehand winner.
As in the second round, it was Medvedev who made the first break in the all-important third section. Despite the onset of cramps, the 25-year-old was able to bring the game 7: 6 (3), 6: 7 (7) and 6: 4 over the finish line. In the round of 16, the Russian will now face Dusan Lajovic or Frances Tiafoe.
Already in the early evening of European time, Roberto Bautista Agut, after a comeback success over Jan-Lennard Struff, and John Isner, after a two-set win against the young Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, made their promotion to the round of 16 of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami fixed. With Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, two other favorites will not attack again until Monday.