World number two Carlos Alcaraz was surprisingly knocked out of the Miami Open quarter finals on Thursday, beaten 6-2 6-4 by Grigor Dimitrov, who was on fire!
In order to win against him, you have to play at your best. That’s just how it is Grigor Dimitrov
The Bulgarian was unbeatable, even by the world No.2 who, after winning the Indian Wells Masters, was well on course to become one of the rare players to do the ‘Sunshine Double’ by adding Miami to his tally of titles.
Explaining his victory, Dimitrov said: “In order to win against him, you have to play at your best. That’s just how it is.
“I came into the match very focused and I think extremely clear on what I had to do. Sometimes simplicity is genius. It’s very, very hard to do it, especially when you play against an opponent like that. But I was able to really dictate the game,
“Honestly, it was a very, very great match on my end. And I’m just happy I finished it straight sets for once,” he concluded with a smile.
Alcaraz admitted he was unable to find an answer to his opponent’s excellent game.
“I have a lot of frustrations right now, because he made me feel like I’m 13 years old. You know, it was crazy,” the Spaniard said following his 92-minute defeat..
“I was talking to my team saying that I don’t know what I have to do. I don’t know, you know, his weakness. I don’t know anything. That’s why I have frustration right now.”
Alcaraz said that he thought he had played better than in his loss to the Bulgarian in Shanghai last October.
“In China I made more mistakes, in the first, second ball, than today. I think he played even better today. He played great. I couldn’t find solutions in today’s match. His game was perfect,” he said.
Dimitrov takes on Alexander Zverev for a place in the final after the German defeated Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, 6-3 7-5.
Alexander Zverev shakes hands with Fabian Marozsan following their match
(Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty Images)
Zverev was delighted to have the chance to return to the final.
“I mean, I love Miami, I always said that, obviously I’m happy to be back at these kind of late stages of these tournaments, playing the best players in the world. I think there’s only those left and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
Jannik Sinner was solid against Tomas Machac
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
In the bottom half the in form Jannik Sinner stormed into the semi-finals following a 6-4 6-2 win over the Czech Tomas Machac while the defending champion Daniil Medvedev, brought Chilean Nicolas Jarry’s excellent run to an end 6-2 7-6(7).
“He has an incredible talent,” Sinner, the world No.3 said of his opponent. “He is super-fast, also physically he is in great shape.
“I didn’t know exactly what to expect today. The first games I was looking a little bit at what kind of tactics could work or not.
“I played good, especially in the important moments of the match, which makes it… the scoreboard, you see the score, but it’s sometimes lying. Today was a little bit like that,” said Sinner.
Medvedev triumphed in a big-hitting match but eventually emerged triumphant despite the vocal support from the stands for his South American opponent.
“In the first set I feel like I was playing good level, but nothing extra and it was enough to win, so I was happy about it,” Medvedev said.
“Then he managed to play much better. It was tough rallies, tough points, he served better and yeah, it was a matter of a few points on the tiebreak like it is sometimes in tennis.
“To be honest I was ready for it (the crowd support for Jarry) and I was expecting worse, when I say worse (I mean) more cheering fans supporting him.
“It was a pretty good atmosphere, you know even many times the referee was saying like players are ready, but I was like I don’t care, it’s actually not too bad, I’ve seen worse,” he said.
Medvedev said he is looking forward to resuming battle with Sinner after his five-set loss in Melbourne.
“I won the first two sets – which would be enough in Miami,” he added.
“But for sure this match is going to be different. I am sure he will adapt again and I am going to talk to my team and see what I can do better.
“I’m going to go out there, 100 percent ready to win and to make his life tough.”
Daniil Medvedev set o retaining his title
. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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