After a deep Indian Wells run, an 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz was ready for more in Miami. Carlos faced the 3rd seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round and delivered a 7-5, 6-3 victory in an hour and 50 minutes for a place in the quarter-final.
Both players struggled on the second serve, and the young Spaniard played better in the crucial moments. Carlos fended off seven out of eight break points and grabbed four return games from 11 opportunities to control the pace and seal the deal in straight sets.
Stefanos led 5-2 in the first set before losing ground and dropping 11 of the final 14 games to push the rival over the top. The Spaniard hit 28 winners and 22 unforced errors and had the upper hand in the more advanced exchanges to remain on the title course.
Tsitsipas held at love in the encounter’s first game and earned two break chances in the next one with a backhand down the line return winner. Carlos saved the first with a smash winner and denied the second with a forehand winner for deuce.
Alcaraz erased the third break chance with an ace and closed the game with a service winner to level the score at 1-1 and avoid an early setback. The young gun grabbed an incredible point at the start of the third game before Tsitsipas took control and closed it for 2-1.
Carlos held after deuce in game four to remain on the positive side before Stefanos clinched the next one with a smash winner at the net. The Greek created three break chances in the sixth game and converted the second after the Spaniard’s loose forehand to open a 4-2 gap.
Alcaraz squandered two break points in game seven and saved Tsitsipas’ game point to extend it. Stefanos erased the third break chance with a forehand winner before Carlos painted a forehand down the line winner for the fourth opportunity.
Tsitsipas saved it and held for a 5-2 advantage. Alcaraz closed the eighth game after deuce to prolong the set and cracked a powerful forehand for two break chances at 3-5.
Carlos Alcaraz toppled Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in Miami.
Tsitsipas netted a backhand on the first to bring the rival back into contention and lose momentum.
Alcaraz landed a perfect lob winner in game ten for a hold at love and 5-5. The Greek opened a 40-15 lead in the 11th game but missed a chance to secure a tie break. Carlos expanded the game with two winners and played two smashes to grab a break and secure his first lead of the encounter.
With a boost on his side, Alcaraz fired three winners in game 12 and rattled off five straight games for 7-5 in 63 minutes. With nothing working his way, Stefanos netted an easy volley at the net to lose serve at the start of the second set.
The youngster held at love in game two for his seventh consecutive game. Alcaraz saved a break point in game four with a service winner and the second when Stefanos’ forehand landed wide. The Spaniard made a crucial hold that pushed him 3-1 in front.
Tsitsipas squandered another break opportunity in game six with a loose forehand, and Alcaraz wrapped up the game with a drop shot winner for 4-2. The young gun delivered a fine hold in game eight to open a 5-3 gap and created two match points on the return in the next one.
Tsitsipas saved them and erased the third to stay competitive. His forehand let him down again, and Alcaraz converted the fourth match point with a perfect drop shot winner that pushed him into the last eight.
