GREEK star Stefanos Tsitsipas has reached the fourth round of the 2022 ATP Masters 1000 Miami Open after defeating Australian 25th seed Alex de Minaur. The third seed won in straight sets 6-4 6-3, to join the other top two seeds in the Round of 16. Of the last two day’s play, only three unseeded players got past seeded ones, and only five of the 16 Round of 32 matches went the full three sets.

In Tsitsipas’ victory over de Minaur, the third seed produced eight aces to two, and won 28 of his 34 first serve points (82 per cent), and 16 of 23 (70 per cent) second serve points. Saving all three break points he faced, he toppled the Australian by breaking twice from six chances, one in each set.

“I was able to execute very well today,” Tsitsipas said post-match. “There were a few moments where I had to fight a little bit and show my inner strength. He fought, as always, and I was very patient. I was trying to focus game after game on how I can open the court and come in.”

Tsitsipas got back to his best on serve, breaking early in the second after breaking in the 10th game of the match to claim the first set, and moved 3-1 ahead in the second. He never looked like dropping his serve after that, only losing one point in his final three service games.

Now Tsitsipas focuses his attention on his next opponent, teenager Carlos Alcaraz who knocked the third seed out of the US Open in one of the most epic five-setters of the tournament. Since then, Alcaraz has gone from strength to strength and Tsitsipas is looking forward to the rematch.

“I’m going to try and fight. He’s a great player,” Tsitsipas said. “For me, it is going to be a big challenge to step out on the court. “I like these kinds of challenges. “I’m going to put my soul out there and give it my all.”

OTHER ATP MIAMI OPEN ROUND OF 16 MATCHES:

[1] Daniil Medvedev (-) defeated Pedro Martinez (ESP) 6-3 6-4
[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) defeated Mackenzie McDonald (USA) 6-2 6-2
[6] Casper Ruud (NOR) defeated [30] Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 6-3 6-2
[8] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) defeated [29] Aslan Karatsev (-) 7-5 4-6 6-3
[9] Jannik Sinner (ITA) defeated [17] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 5-7 7-5 7-5
[10] Cameron Norrie (GRB) defeated Hugo Gaston (FRA) 6-3 7-5
[11] Taylor Fritz (USA) defeated Tommy Paul (USA) 7-6 6-4
[14] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) defeated [21] Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-4 6-4
Jenson Brooksby (USA) defeated [15] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 6-3 5-7 6-4
Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) defeated [22] Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-2 6-3
[28] Frances Tiafoe (USA) defeated Juan Manuel Cerundolo (ARG) 6-3 6-2
[WC] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) defeated [31] Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-2 6-4
Lloyd Harris (RSA) defeated [Q] Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) 7-6 4-6 7-5
Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) defeated Sebastian Korda (USA) 7-6 6-3
[Q] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) defeated [Q] Denis Kudla (USA) 7-6 4-6 7-6