Djokovic hit top form to beat Musetti and reach the Miami quarters. Aussies Alex de Minaur and Adam Walton both bowed out in straight sets.
Djokovic rolls into Miami Open quarters as Aussies bow out
Australians Alex de Minaur and Adam Walton both bowed out of the Miami Open on Wednesday (AEDT), while tournament favourite Novak Djokovic cruised into the quarter-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 event.
De Minaur’s fourth-round clash with Matteo Berrettini proved a missed opportunity, with the world No.11 squandering six set points in a straight-sets loss.
Despite being the favourite across tennis betting sites, de Minaur was unable to convert a 0-40 opportunity on Berrettini’s serve at 5-4 in the second, and later let slip a 6-3 lead in the tiebreak before falling 6-3, 7-6(7).
“It means a lot, the way I won this match,” Berrettini said.
“It felt like I lost this second set, then I won it, then I lost it again, then I won it. Pretty tough mentally. Demon is an unbelievable player. He’s defending in a way I’ve never seen, so I’m really proud of myself.”
Walton also went down in straight sets, losing 6-3, 7-5 to world No.13 Taylor Fritz.
The Queenslander, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser, had defied the odds to reach the round of 16 but found the American too strong.
Walton had been a clear underdog with all the top betting sportsbooks heading into the match.
Meanwhile, Djokovic found top form in his 6-2, 6-2 demolition of 15th seed Lorenzo Musetti.
The Serbian dropped just four games after a slow start and a brief confrontation with the chair umpire that seemed to reignite his focus.
“He had a really good start of the match, I started a little bit slow,” Djokovic said afterwards.
“I knew if I give him time, he’s going to make his shots. He’s so talented. It was tough, particularly in the first seven or eight games. It was a momentum shift, I tried to use that. Overall, it was a great match.”
Djokovic has now shortened to +150 at Nags.bet in the outright market and is a -357.14 favourite to defeat Sebastian Korda in the quarters.
The American is battling a wrist issue sustained during his win over Gael Monfils, further boosting Djokovic’s path to a potential seventh Miami Open crown.
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