Miami Open: Daniil Medvedev and Naomi Osaka lose in quarter-finals | Tennis News

Seeded Daniil Medvedev crashed out of the Miami Open on Wednesday on a day of upheaval that also saw Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka ousted from the quarter-finals. Seventh-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain defeated Medvedev 6-4, 6-2, for his third victory in as many encounters with the Russian who was Novak Djokovic’s finalist at the Australian Open and s’ is hoisted to the world n ° 2 with his victory in Marseille in March. World second-placed women Osaka, seeded second behind Ashleigh Barty, ranked second in the prestigious ATP Masters and WTA hard-court tournament, had retired hours earlier, the Japanese star’s 23-game winning streak. ‘stopping abruptly with a 6-0, 6-4 loss to Greece’s Maria Sakkari.

Bautista booked a semi-final with 19-year-old Italian Jannick Sinner, the 31st in the world who beat Kazakhstani Alexander Bublik 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.

Sakkari will face Canadian eighth seed Bianca Andreescu for a place in the women’s final.

Andreescu, ranked ninth in the world, took a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over tenacious 58th Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo.

Osaka, playing her first tournament since winning her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, won just eight points in the first set as she failed to muster a single winner.

Osaka broke in the second game of the second set and took a 3-0 lead before Sakkari returned for a victory that ended Osaka’s chance to overtake Australia’s Barty – who had already reserved her place in semi-final – at the top of the world rankings. week.

Osaka acknowledged that the rankings race may have affected her against 25th-ranked Sakkari from Greece.

“The last time I was in this seat (at a press conference) I wasn’t really thinking about the standings, but someone asked me that question, so I started to think about it a lot.

“So maybe it reluctantly put pressure on me. But I think even if it did, I should be able to get past that,” Osaka said.

Osaka had not given up a set in love since his last defeat, which occurred in February 2020 in a Fed Cup match.

“She’s got the most wins so far this year so she’s in great shape – that meant a lot to me,” said Sakkari, who let out a cry of joy after the final point.

“To be fair, I got a little tight in the first two games of the second set,” said Sakkari, who saved six match points in her fourth round win over American Jessica Pegula.

“I stayed inside and started to fight, hitting a few more balls and gaining a few points against her.”

– Andreescu survives Sorribes –

Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion trying to find her way back this year after a 15-month injury absence, beat Sorribes in the last game of the first set, kicking off a streak of eight straight service interruptions.

Andreescu was upset with a time violation early in the second set, in which Sorribes held serve for the only time in the set for a 5-3 lead – enough of an advantage to tie the game.

Going up from a 3-2 break in the third, Andreescu saved three break points to hold on, broke Sorribes again to give up his own serve, but ultimately sealed it with a scathing backhand on the line of his second point. match.

“She’s an incredible fighter,” said Andreescu. “I have no idea how I did it, but I fought as hard as I could and I’m super happy.”

Bautista entered his clash with Medvedev with the confidence of two previous victories over the Russian, and once again he had the winning formula.

“I want to give Daniil all the credit, I know he’s one of the best players in the world,” Bautista said. “He’s won a lot of matches, he’s world No.2 so I’m very happy and proud of the way I played today. I think I showed a great level on the pitch.”

The Spaniard won the first break of a tense first set for a 5-4 lead, then saved a breaking point to pocket the set on his second chance.

He broke Medvedev to open the second set, and the Russian never found a way back, unable to convert two break points before dropping his serve again to hang out 4-1.

Bautista served the game in a straightforward style, with some love play after an hour and 32 minutes.

Against Sinner, he will seek revenge for a three-set loss in the third round in Dubai.

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Sinner handled whatever Bublik could throw at him on Wednesday – from a forehand return at 105 mph to a serve from below.

In the end, many of the Italian’s 28 forehand winners booked a semi-final spot on his third Masters 1000 appearance.