Casper Ruud stunned by Nicolas Jarry, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev advance into Miami Open quarter-finals

ByJames Hilsum

Updated 26/03/2024 at 23:53 GMT

Nicolas Jarry achieved a landmark victory to dump Casper Ruud out of the Miami Open in front of jubiliant crowd in Florida, with the majority seemingly backing the Chilean. There were no such problems for Daniil Medvedev or Jannik Sinner though, as the duo booked their places in the quarter-finals following straight-set victories over Christopher O'Connell and Dominik Koepfer respectively.

Nicolas Jarry claimed a huge scalp after dumping Casper Rudd out of the Miami Open with a 7-6(3) 6-3 victory to seal a quarter-final match-up with Daniil Medvedev.

The Chilean was roared on by some of his raucous compatriots in the crowd to secure a memorable win over the world No. 8.

Jarry immediately set his stall out to break the Norwegian in the first game and followed it with an emphatic hold to love.

ATP Barcelona

Ruud claims first ATP title of season with revenge win over Tsitsipas in Barcelona

21/04/2024 at 16:41

Ruud penetrated Jarry’s serve to level up the scores at 3-3, but the Chilean prevailed after the first of three set points to move halfway towards victory.

The Norwegian was clearly struggling in a sobering second set, as a double fault left him a break and a set down at 4-2.

Jarry earned two match points with an ace down the middle and powered his way to victory with a ferocious backhand.

Speaking after the match he said: “The crowd has been amazing; I'm very happy with the result and the way I played.

“I was very strong on court not missing many easy balls, which was pleasing considering the conditions were so tough.

“The wind caused a problem for myself and Casper, so I was happy to deal with that.

“I grew up on clay so I know the feeling of having a strong forehand; Casper has it and that's why he's been a finalist at the French Open.

“I try to maintain myself and be very strong physically in every stroke.”

Medvedev overcomes Koepfer

Medvedev sealed his place in the last eight after surviving an edgy first set to beat Dominik Koepfer 7-6 (5) 6-0 in his 350th career win.

The Russian claimed an early break at the end of a mammoth third game which went to deuce six times, but the world No. 50 broke back immediately.

The German was showing his quality with his ability to win points off the baseline and gave the defending champion plenty to think about after securing consecutive holds to love having moved 4-3 ahead.

Koepfer displayed few chinks in his service armour to move 5-4 up with a convincing hold to 15, leaving the Russian serving to keep the set alive.

Highlights: Medvedev powers past Koepfer

He did just that as a tie-break beckoned, with the 29-year-old's aggressive approach reaping dividends.

Koepfer broke Medvedev twice early on, racing into a 4-0 lead before a rare forehand error gave the world No. 4 a possible route back into this set.

He fully exploited that road to recovery with the German crying out in frustration as Medvedev roared back to lead 5-4 after capitalising on a flurry of errors before eventually taking the set.

Despite an inauspicious start to the second, Medvedev drew first blood in the contest with Koepfer unable to return a forehand into the far corner.

Everything was starting to unravel for Koepfer, as Medvedev began to find his stride with a devastating array of shots and surged into a 3-0 lead at the start of the second set.

The Russian showed his ruthless streak to wrap up the contest with a bagel, breaking Koepfer three times in the process and rubber stamping his place in the quarter-finals with an emphatic hold to love.

• Swiatek 'disappointed' as quest for Sunshine Double ends with loss to Alexandrova
• Alcaraz puts on a 'show' in front of 'legends' as he beats Monfils to make last 16

Speaking about the comparative ease in which Medvedev won the second set as opposed to the first, he said: “I think sometimes it happens, when you lose the first set the way he lost it.

“He played very good, probably was closer to winning it because of the 4-0 in the tie-break and when you lose such a set, especially when the points were tough, it brings your energy down.

“I knew I had to use that in the beginning of the second set. That’s why it was the most important and I managed to do it. Sometimes that happens, but the level was high today.”

Sinner sweeps aside O'Connell

Jannik Sinner recovered from a nervy start to beat Christopher O'Connell 6-4 and book his place in the quarter-finals.

The reigning US Open champion was broken in the opening game by the Australian after surviving three break points, and followed that up with a hold to 30.

O'Connell managed to swat away two break points to go 4-2 up, but the tide turned in Sinner's favour after the Italian claimed a break of his own and levelled the score back at 4-4.

The Australian was left serving to prolong the set, but a long return ensured the world No. 3 completed an impressive comeback to seal the first set and left O'Connell thinking about what might have been.

O'Connell's short return off Sinner's forehand sealed an early break for the world No.3 in set two, and momentum had seemingly swung firmly in the Italian’s favour.

A brief rain delay did not seem to halt Sinner's charge towards victory, but O'Connell claimed an admirable hold at 5-3 to sweep aside the Italian's first match point.

But Sinner had three match points in the bank following a superb forehand winner, and prevailed on the second of those to set up a quarter-final with Tomas Machac.

Speaking after the match, Sinner said: "Today was much windier, so I had to adjust a little bit.

"He started off really well, I made a couple of mistakes and when you're a break down, especially at the beginning, it's always tough.

"I had a couple of chances even before I broke him, so I knew I was doing the right kind of things. I tried to stay solid, he made a couple of mistakes at important moments and that was the key today."

When asked about the more dominant nature of the second set, he replied: "It's about how you can find the right solution in these moments; today I found it, but let's see what happens in the next round."

- - -

Stream top tennis action, including the French Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

Tennis

Madrid Open: Are Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz and Raducanu playing?

24/04/2024 at 08:40

ATP Barcelona

Ruud eyes 'biggest title of career' ahead of Tsitsipas final at Barcelona Open

20/04/2024 at 19:31

ATP Barcelona

Norrie earns 200th ATP Tour win, Ruud, Rune, Tsitsipas reach quarter-finals

18/04/2024 at 19:21