Jannik Sinner, the Italian ninth-seed, had to save five match points against Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta. He now faces Nick Kyrgios who despatched another Italian Fabio Fognini.
For the second straight match, Jannik Sinner had to save multiple match points in order to advance at the Miami Open.
Sinner had a bye in the first round and his second round match was against Emil Ruusuvuoiri. In that match, he saved three match points before progressing 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8).
In trouble from the start
A Miami finalist in 2021, Sinner was behind from the start of the match on Court Butch Buchholz. In the end, he overcame Pablo Carreno Busta in a 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 win.
Sinner staved off his first match point on serve at 5-4 in the second set. From Advantage onwards, he won the next 11 points straight to take the match to a third set.
The decider did not start well, as he fell behind to a break, before breaking back to love to prevent Carreno Busta from serving it out.
An epic 11-minute game saw five deuces and the Italian rescue four match points. As his play became more aggressive and fearless, so he got the backing of the crowd.
At 5-5, Sinner pressured the 17th seed’s serve, breaking to edge in front. After three hours and 11 minutes, Sinner took the match with his second match point.
Aussie Kyrgios in fourth round
The Italian now faces red-hot Nick Kyrgios, who stormed past Andrey Rublev and Fabio Fognini to reach the fourth round without dropping a set. Sinner and Kyrgios were set to face each other at the same stage at Indian Wells earlier this month, but the Italian withdrew due to illness.
This will be their first ATP Head to Head meeting.
