Hubert Hurkacz defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis in the most stunning match of the Miami Open so far. The world's number 9 prevailed against Aussie after 3:34 hours of play, ended up after three tie-break sets and the score 6-7(10) 7-6(7) 7-6(6). This match was a great serving performance at first. There were only two breaks in whole the match, both in second set. Hurkacz was the one who created much more chances, as he produced 8 breakpoints, to 3 created by Kokkinakis (all in one game). The Pole scored 21 aces in compare to 23 of the Aussie. But the numbers tell nothing here, as the story of momentum switches and wasting chances is something amazing here.
Hurkacz could strongly regret the first set. There were no breakpoints here, but the top 10 player had a mini breakpoint advantage and as many as 6 set points. The Pole did not convert any of those, and this tiebreak came to the enormous score 12-10, when Kokkinakis used his second setpoint. Second set was another frustrating time for Hurkacz. He was leading with a break, and serving for the set, but allowed the Aussie to create all of his only 3 breakpoints in whole match and regain the score. Hurkacz did not convert the breakpoint in 11th game and was almost done in a tie-break, losing 4-6, being a one minibreak down. Then, the roles reversed and it was Kokkinakis who blew away his chances. He had 3 matchpoints, while first of it was within his own serve. Hurkacz came almost out of nowhere, winning 5 out of 6 last points in this tie-break and somehow securing himself, forcing the decider.
Third set looked kinda similar, as Hurkacz was more dangerous in the play, creating 4 breakpoints, but again making no serious use of it. Same as before, Kokkinakis moved in front in the tie-break, staying ahead of exactly same chance as before - leading 6-4 with a mini-break and having the matchpoint within own serve. And same as before... he bottled it. Hurkacz won 4 points in a row, utilizing his first matchpoint and achieving the almost miracle win. It was quite an absurd turn of events, as the Pole was the one who could regret the lose more, if that happens, because of being more dangerous in open play. But at the end of the day, it is Kokkinakis who failed to use any of the matchpoints which he created in the match, where the serve weighed so much.
Here are the highlights of this thrilling battle:
It was not the only three tie-break sets match today, as Quentin Halys managed to make quite an upset, defeating Alex De Minaur 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 7-6(8). The seeded Aussie had a matchpoint in second set, during the Halys's serve in 10th game. It was the set blown away by the pre-match favorite, as he was leading with a break advantage from the start. He had also two chances in decisive tie-break, leading 6-5 and 8-7, but at the end it was a Frenchman who won the last three points and made a big surprise, also coming from a big trouble there. Another huge match full of plot twists.
The local favorites managed to make some notable surprises today. Christopher Eubanks made an upset on Borna Coric, defeating the Croatian 3-6 6-4 6-2, while Mackenzie Mcdonald defeated Matteo Berrettini in two tie-breaks 7-6(10) 7-6(5). Cameron Norrie is possibly the biggest name being eliminated from tournament today. The top ranked Brit lost to Gregoire Barrere, as the Frenchman earned the big win there, with quite a shocking result 6-3 6-2.
Daniil Medvedev came back to action after his last week's defeat in BNP Paribas Open final in Indian Wells. The Russian, as expected, had absolutely no trouble against Roberto Carballes Baena, moving to third round in dominant style with a score 6-1 6-2.
Here are the ATP highlights from Saturday:
