Miami Open 2021 - Britain’s Cameron Norrie out, Daniil Medvedev overcomes cramp to reach last-16

ByRichard Newman

Updated 29/03/2021 at 10:24 GMT

The British number two Cameron Norrie fell to a three-set defeat to American Taylor Fritz, while world number two Daniil Medvedev dealt with leg cramps in the Miami heat to eventually get past Australian Alexei Popyrin. There were also victories for home favourites John Isner and Frances Tiafoe, as well as Roberto Bautista Agut.

British number two Cameron Norrie is out of the Miami Open, but Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev fought off leg cramps to reach the last-16.

Norrie was beaten by Taylor Fritz, who saw off the world number 56 with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory.

A set and 5-2 up, Medvedev looked to be in control of his match with Alexei Popyrin, before the Australian fought back to take the second set on a tie break to force a decider.

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But Russia’s world number two was beginning to feel the Florida heat, and required regular massages and electrolyte drinks to battle through cramp, before seeing out a 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 win - a result he is proud of given the circumstances.

Daniil Medvedev needed massages to fight off cramp during his Miami Open win

Image credit: Getty Images

“It’s probably one of the sweetest victories in my career, because I was cramping like hell in the third set,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview.

It’s one thing when you’re cramping when you’re [ahead], but I started cramping before. It was tough to think about the win in these conditions.

“At the same time, I should have won in two sets and we would not be talking about cramping. But anyway, we have the result on the board and I’m happy that I managed to go through all the difficulties of this definitely crazy match.”

John Isner booked his place in the last-16 with a 7-6, 7-6 win over Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, where he is joined by fellow American Frances Tiafoe, who came from a set down for the third match in a row to get past Serbian 16th seed Dusan Lajovic 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Finn Emil Ruusuvuori followed up his shock win over Alexander Zverev with another victory over Nordic rival Michael Ymer, while Roberto Bautista Agut, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Bublik also progressed.

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