MIAMI GARDENS, United States: Fourth seed Ons Jabeur crashed out of the Miami Open on Friday, losing her opening match to Russian qualifier Varvara Gracheva 6-2, 6-2.
Tunisian Jabeur, beaten finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, has been working her way back from injury and on her return earlier this month went out in the third round at Indian Wells.
Jabeur underwent surgery after suffering a knee injury at the Australian Open, and subsequently missed the WTA Tour’s Middle East swing.
She looked well short of her best against the 22-year-old Gracheva and had two medical visits during the one hour 11 minute match.
The win was the biggest scalp yet for Gracheva, who earlier this month reached her first WTA final, losing in Austin to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.
“The plan was, of course like all matches, to be as stable as possible, to try to make her work as much points as possible, and of course wait for comfortable ones to attack,” Gracheva said after her third career win over a top ten opponent.
“I’ve just probably caught this wave where I’m stable, where I always have a chance to play my game, be aggressive, cause troubles for the others by the game style. I’ve just got to try to keep rolling on this way,” she added.
Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 win over China’s Wang Xinyu and her compatriot Barbora Krejcikova also enjoyed a straight sets win, 6-3, 6-2 against Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovic.
Jabeur crashes out to Gracheva in Miami
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Jabeur crashes out to Gracheva in Miami
- Tunisian Jabeur, beaten finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, has been working her way back from injury
- Jabeur underwent surgery after suffering a knee injury at the Australian Open
Collins and Alexandrova set up semifinal showdown at WTA Miami Open
- Collins reached the semifinals of Miami six years ago as a qualifier and at 53rd is the lowest ranked semifinalist in the tournament
- Thursday will see the opening semifinal with three-time Miami winner Victoria Azarenka up against fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina
MIAMI: Danielle Collins and Ekaterina Alexandrova will meet in the semifinals of the WTA Miami Open after victories in the last eight on Wednesday.
Collins powered into the last four with an emphatic 6-3, 6-2 win over France’s Caroline Garcia before Alexandrova emerged triumphant from a near two-hour three set battle with American fifth seed Jessica Pegula.
Thursday will see the opening semifinal with three-time Miami winner Victoria Azarenka up against fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina, the highest ranked player left in the tournament.
Garcia went into the match against Collins on the back of an upset win over third-seeded American Coco Gauff but was unable to get a foothold against the Floridian.
Garcia still appeared to be troubled by an injury to her right shoulder and received some treatment early in the second set.
Collins broke to go 5-3 up in the first set and then held serve for the set, then in the second set broke in the third game and never looked back as she wrapped up the win in one hour and 19 minutes.
Collins reached the semifinals of Miami six years ago as a qualifier and at 53rd is the lowest ranked semifinalist in the tournament.
The 30-year-old American is now 4-0 against Garcia and has yet to lose a set to the Frenchwoman but said the numbers didn’t tell the true story.
“I think against someone like Caro, it forces me to be more concentrated. I know I don’t want to give her an inch or she can get in there,” Collins said.
Garcia said she had felt the pace of back-to-back tournaments.
“It’s been a long two weeks for the body for me, between the back at the beginning and then the she shoulder which came back,” she told reporters, adding that the shoulder issue was a recurrence of a previous injury.
“I think it’s nothing too serious but (shoulder) is always quite problematic for a tennis player,” she said, before adding that Collins had played “an amazing match.”
Collins intends to retire at the end of the year but while she agreed she had a relaxed look to her play, she rejected the idea that it was a result of her impending departure from the sport.
“I think I feel pretty relaxed, but that could be due to a number of things. I’ve got a new hobby. I’m playing some more golf, running more, Pilates, all of these different things,” she said.
“My dog is here. I’m feeling relaxed because I get to be with him at night. I don’t know,” she said with a smile.
Alexandrova beat home favorite Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, showing plenty of grit in a third set where both players showed signs of fatigue.
Pegula broke to go 4-3 up in the first and broke again to clinch the set but the Russian fought back, breaking in the first game of the second set.
Again 14th seed Alexandrova broke early in the third but she let Pegula back into the set when she double-faulted on break point to leave the set balanced at 3-3.
The pair produced a fantastic rally in the subsequent game which Pegula was able to hold, but at 4-4, Alexandrova struck the decisive blow with Pegula going long on a back-hand return on the second break point.
The Russian held to grab the win and fell to her knees in joy at the result.
Alexandrova, who upset world number one Iga Swiatek in the previous round, said it was tough to break down Pegula’s gritty defense.
“I couldn’t understand how it was possible to return that ball it was always back. She was everywhere so I needed to do something,” she said. “I tried to wait and use any opportunities that I got.”
The win was Alexandrova’s third against a top five player this year and she said her success was the result of developing patience.
“You have to wait and wait and something is going to come — and then you have to use it,” she said.
Defending champ Medvedev, No. 1 seed Alcaraz advance into Miami Open quarterfinals
- 2018 finalist and No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev reached his fourth Miami Open quarterfinals with win over 15th-seeded Karen Khachanov
- On the women’s side, No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina outlasted No. 8 seed Maria Sakkari 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Defending Miami Open champion Daniil Medvedev won his 350th career match to move into the quarterfinals for a fourth straight year, beating Dominik Koepfer 7-6 (5), 6-0 on Tuesday.
Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz also advanced with ease in a 6-3, 6-3 win over No. 23 seed Lorenzo Musetti.
Alcaraz, who beat Musetti in less than 90 minutes and looked comfortable as ever on the court, said he’s “probably” playing his best tennis since last summer. That ankle injury from last month is no longer a concern, he said.
“I don’t know if this is the best game that I’m playing, but without a doubt it’s the best feeling,” the Wimbledon champion said. “I’m feeling great on the court. I’m moving great. ... I’m not thinking about the ankle anymore on the court.”
Alcaraz will face No. 11 seed Grigor Dimitrov on Thursday in the quarterfinals. Dimitrov beat No. 8 seed Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) after a tiebreaker in which Hurkacz was penalized for touching the net with his foot.
Tied at 2-2 in the tiebreaker, the match referee said Hurkacz’s foot touched the net as he charged forward on a return. It cost him a point. Hurkacz slammed his racquet in protest.
In a match that lasted well into Wednesday morning, 2018 finalist and No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev reached his fourth Miami Open quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-4 win over 15th-seeded Karen Khachanov 6-1, 6-4.
No. 3 seed Medvedev, after a tight opening set, pulled away to win his ninth straight match in south Florida and continue his run at back-to-back titles.
Medvedev trailed 4-0 in the tiebreaker before rallying to take the set. He said he used that momentum to get out to a fast start and finish his milestone victory.
“I would say before the match, the desire to win is the same, but for sure, the feeling of winning, and during the match while you’re winning, is different,” he said. “The feelings are different, but the desire is the same and that’s what keeps me going.”
Medvedev goes for victory No. 351 on Wednesday against Nicolas Jarry, the No. 22 seed who ousted No. 7 seed Casper Ruud 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, seeded No. 2, improved to 19-1 in matches this year with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Christopher O’Connell to reach the quarterfinals.
In the middle of the match, commentators said a spectator had fainted in the 82 degree temperatures and play was stopped. Sinner came to the sideline and passed up drinks and towels to the person.
Also advancing was Tomas Machac, who reached the quarterfinals to face Sinner with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Matteo Arnaldi.
On the women’s side, No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina outlasted No. 8 seed Maria Sakkari 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4 in a grueling match that lasted 2 hours and 48 minutes to earn a spot in the semifinals.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka defeated Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-3 to also make the semifinals. It was the second time that Azarenka, 34, has made it to the semifinals this season after going that far just once in 2023. She has won the Miami Open three times.
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek, US Open champ Coco Gauff fall in upsets, Alacaraz advances at Miami Open
- Alexandrova beat a top-ranked player for the first time and advanced to face Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals
- Garcia said it had been a while since she had a victory over a top-10 opponent like Gauff
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Top-ranked Iga Swiatek and US Open champion Coco Gauff have been knocked out of the Miami Open.
Swiatek lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-2 on Monday night, hours after the third-seeded Gauff fell in three sets to No. 23 Caroline Garcia 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
In the men’s draw, top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the round of 16 with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Gael Monfils.
Alexandrova beat a top-ranked player for the first time and advanced to face Jessica Pegula, a 7-6(1), 6-3 winner over Emma Navarro, in the quarterfinals.
Alexandrova recorded her second win over Swiatek, following a 2021 victory in Melbourne. Swiatek had won their three matches since.
“We played quite a few times before and sometimes it was three sets,” Alexandrova said. “I think sometimes I was quite close to it, but still far away. Winning against her, of course it feels great. I’m not sure if it’s a surprise or not, but I just worked quite hard on the court and it paid off.”
Swiatek rallied from a set down and beat Linda Noskova a day earlier. Against Alexandrova, she struggled.
“Disappointed for sure because I thought I was going to play better here in Miami,” Swiatek said. “But she played an amazing match and for sure, she was the better player out there today. Her serve, I had a had time reading it. I got a little bit tense when I couldn’t return well.”
Garcia defeated her second straight Grand Slam champion to reach Miami’s quarterfinals. She ousted four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka 7-6 (4), 7-5 on Sunday.
Garcia said it had been a while since she had a victory over a top-10 opponent like Gauff.
“You keep working and trying to stay positive about what’s coming, that it’s going to pay off,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s very hard. But I’m lucky enough to have very good people behind me to help me and stay positive when I’m struggling.”
“It means a lot to have this little reward and keep going in the tournament,” she said.
Also moving into the quarterfinals was No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina, who defeated 17th-seeded American Madison Keys 6-3, 7-5.
Rybakina will next face No. 8 seed Maria Sakkari, who advanced to her second Miami Open quarterfinal when Anna Kalinskaya, seeded 22nd, withdrew with a right thigh injury.
Victoria Azarenka, who has won the Australian Open twice, made the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Katie Boulter.
Yulia Putintseva also advanced, defeating No. 27 seed Anhalina Kalinina straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (5), and No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula beat Emma Navarro 7-6 (1), 6-3.
Alcaraz will next face Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-6 (5).
Alexander Zverev, the fourth seed, defeated Christopher Eubanks 7-6 (4), 6-3, and No. 9 seed Alex de Minaur beat Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (3), 6-4.
Coco Gauff advances to Miami Open fourth round vs. Garcia, who beat Osaka
- Top-ranked Iga Swiątek came from behind to edge No. 31 Linda Noskova 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-4
- Miami Open runner-up and third-ranked Jannik Sinner rallied after dropping the first set to outlast No. 26 Tallon Griekspoor
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Third-ranked Coco Gauff came from behind in the first set to beat Oceane Dodin 6-4, 6-0 on Sunday and advance to the fourth round of the Miami Open for the second time in her career.
Gauff won 10 straight games after Dodin took a 4-2 lead in the opening set, thanks partly to nine double-faults by Dodin at critical moments.
Gauff has just one loss in her past 23 matches in the US. That defeat came against Maria Sakkari at Indian Wells earlier this month.
Gauff, who turned 20 on March 13, is the youngest American player to hold a top-three seed at Miami. The reigning US Open champion, who is from South Florida, attended the event growing up and said capturing a title there would be special.
“It would be really cool to win here at home,” said Gauff, who was born in Delray Beach, Florida. “I think the best part about winning here is just being able to drive home with the trophy and not have to fly and pack. ... And I’m a Dolphins fan, so maybe if I win here they can win another trophy at the Super Bowl.”
Gauff will face No. 27 Caroline Garcia, who defeated Naomi Osaka 7-6 (4), 7-5 on Sunday in a match in which the pair combined for 28 aces. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, came up short despite playing some of her best tennis of the season in Miami. She beat 17th-ranked Elina Svitolina 6-2, 7-6 (5) on Saturday, which was her second win over a top-20 opponent in her previous four matches.
In other women’s matches, top-ranked Iga Swiątek came from behind to edge No. 31 Linda Noskova 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-4; fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula defeated No. 35 Leylah Fernandez 7-5, 6-4 to reach the round of 16 for the third straight year; and No. 24 Sorana Cirstea beat 11th-ranked Daria Kasatkina 7-5, 6-2.
In men’s play, last year’s Miami Open runner-up and third-ranked Jannik Sinner rallied after dropping the first set to outlast No. 26 Tallon Griekspoor 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 and advance to the fourth round. A light rain shower briefly stopped match play with Griekspoor leading 7-5, 3-3, but Sinner took control of the match after the delay.
Tomas Machac beat Andy Murray 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5) in a match that last nearly 3 1/2 hours. Murray appeared to land awkwardly on his left ankle in the third set and immediately came up in pain but finished the match after briefly having the ankle checked. Eighth-ranked Casper Ruud earned the 100th hard-court win of his career with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Sabalenka exits Miami, Alcaraz starts in style
- World number one Iga Swiatek had no trouble in beating Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-1
MIAMI: A traumatic week for world number two Aryna Sabalenka came to an end with a third round, three set loss in the Miami Open to Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina on Saturday.
The 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 win for the 36th ranked Kalinina prompted Sabalenka, who had kept her emotions in check through both of her games at Hard Rock Stadium, to smash her racket violently into the court.
On Monday, Belarusian Sabalenka’s former boyfriend, ex-NHL player Konstantin Koltsov, died in Miami after what police called an “apparent suicide.”
The pair had been in a relationship until recently and Sabalenka only announced they were no longer together following the death.
On Friday, she looked in control as she defeated her close friend Paula Badosa of Spain in straight sets.
But given the late slot on the main stadium court, Sabalenka looked to be feeling the strain more as she struggled for any kind of consistency.
After losing the opening set, she utterly dominated Kalinina in the second, with her serve and powerful backhand too much for the Ukrainian.
But once Kalinina broke in the third, Sabalenka’s focus and composure deserted her and her opponent took full advantage.
“It’s really tough with nerves. But I managed in the tough moments to deal with it,” said Kalinina. “So I’m a little bit proud of myself today.”
World number one Iga Swiatek had no trouble in beating Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-1 as the rain impacted tournament packed in the big names including postponed matches from Friday.
“I was feeling really pretty confident and I just wanted to see how I’m going to feel the surface. It was all really comfortable, so I’m happy,” said Swiatek.
Japan’s Noami Osaka continued her increasingly impressive form with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) win over 17th ranked Elina Svitolina, in a battle of two women who have returned to the tour after giving birth.
Sixth-seed Ons Jabeur suffered an upset with 21-year-old Russian Elina Avanesyan, ranked 65th in the world, running out a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 winner.
Elena Rybakina moved into the fourth round after a tight tussle with American Taylor Townsend.
Townsend, ranked 11th, won a second set tie-break to set up a fiercely contested deciding set before she succumbed with the Kazakh winning 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4.
In the ATP event, top seed Carlos Alcaraz was simply too much for his compatriot Roberto Carballes Baena as he powered to a 6-2, 6-1 win in 85 minutes.
Like Swiatek, Alcaraz is looking to complete the “Sunshine Double” after his victory in Indian Wells last week and the two-time Grand Slam winner looked in formidable form.
The 20-year-old was on top from the start, powerful from the baseline but willing to approach the net as he hit 10 winners to one in the opening set.
He saved all three break points that he faced against his 64th ranked opponent, who asked some tough questions at times but usually received an emphatic response.
Alcaraz will next face French veteran Gael Monfils, a 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 6-2 winner over Australian Jordan Thompson.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner, the Australian Open champion ranked third in the world, made a confident start to his bid in Miami with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over compatriot and qualifier Andrea Vavassori.
Progress was also straightforward for defending champion Daniil Medvedev who advanced into the third round with a 6-4 6-2 win over Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.
But it was a tough day for the American men.
Taylor Fritz was upset by Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild in straight sets as three of the four top ranked US men tumbled out of the tournament.
Fritz’s early departure came shortly after Francis Tiafoe went out to another lower-ranked player in Australian Christopher O’Connell.
O’Connell, battled to a 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) win over the 21st-seeded Tiafoe after play began following a three-hour rain delay.
Tommy Paul had to retire with an ankle injury in his match against fellow American, wild card Martin Damm. Paul had won the first set 6-4 and was 2-1 down in the second when he abandoned.
Greek 10th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas also headed for the exit door at the Hard Rock Stadium after he was upset by 126th ranked Denis Shapovalov of Canada.
Britain’s Andy Murray, a two-time winner in Miami, advanced to the third round with a 7-6 (7/0), 6-3 win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry.