Miami: Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a record seventh Miami Open ATP title ended in dramatic fashion Tuesday as Roberto Bautista Agut superbly recovered from a first set destruction to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 and book a place in the quarterfinals.
The 30 year-old Spaniard may have beaten Djokovic on the way to winning the title in Doha earlier this year but 15-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic started like a train in this last 16 encounter before being amazingly reined back in.
After just 25 minutes, Djokovic was 5-0 ahead and on cruise control, Bautista Agut severely struggling to keep the Serbian at bay.
A short rain delay late in the second set allowed Bautista Agut to regroup, however.
He returned a completely different player and at the end of an absorbing two hours and 29 minutes, it was the No.22 seed who will now meet defending champion John Isner for a place in the semifinals.
“Of course this is very special for me,” said Bautista Agut. “I just tried to play aggressive.”
Djokovic left court and headed straight to a press conference to try and explain this most remarkable of turnarounds at Hard Rock Stadium.
“He is a solid player but I shouldn’t have lost this match, I had way too many wasted opportunities,” he said.”I thought I played well today and during this tournament but two or three sluggish games and that’s what happens.”
Nick Kyrgios found himself in hot waters once again after Croatian Borna Coric beat him 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The controversial Australian was furious after being heckled by a fan during the third set and was docked a point after responding with an expletive.
“I’m playing for two hours and 20 minutes, and a guy yells at me, ‘Play some tennis,’ I’m not going to take it. So I said F you to him,” said Kyrgios, who admitted he became ‘a little bored’ during the second set.”
In the women’s draw, Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit reached the semifinals in Miami for the first time after she brought an end to Hsieh Su-Wei’s impressive run with a 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory.
AFP
