Miami – Defending champion Hubert Hurkacz denied Daniil Medvedev the hoped-for return to the top of the tennis world rankings at the Masters 1000 tournament in Miami.
The 25-year-old Pole beat the Russian, who is one year older than him, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, he will now meet the 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who beat the Serb Miomir Kecmanovic 6:7 (5:7), 6:3, 7:6 (7:5) in an enormously exciting match.
Only a few weeks ago, Medvedev had replaced Novak Djokovic at the top of the world rankings. However, the Russian immediately lost the top position due to his early exit at the tournament in Indian Wells – and now also missed the chance to return. The Serb Djokovic could not start at the two big hard court tournaments in the USA due to his missing Corona vaccination.
Alexander Zverev had previously suffered the next disappointment this season in Miami. The 24-year-old from Hamburg lost 3:6, 6:1, 3:6 to Casper Ruud from Norway. In the semi-finals, a duel would have awaited the surprise man Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina, who will now meet Ruud.