Juan Martin Del Potro extends winning streak to 14 matches to set up quarter-finals clash with Milos Raonic
Wednesday 28 March 2018 17:20, UK
The highest seeded player remaining in the draw, Marin Cilic, was sent tumbling out of the Miami Open by home favourite John Isner on Tuesday.
The Croatian was favourite to win in Florida following the exit of Roger Federer earlier in the week, but the big-serving American powered into the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 success.
Isner rattled down 12 aces on his way to victory in just 87 minutes to set up a last-eight meeting with South Korean 19th seed Hyeon Chung.
When you serve 73 per cent for a match in blustery conditions with his accuracy and his pace and power, it's going to be difficult for anybody to beat him. Also, he played the big points very well and I thought his variety was excellent. He was willing to come forward at times and go back behind Cilic onto that forehand side was so, so important. I thought he did so many things well out there. Nobody is going to want to play him especially if he serves as well as he did today and is aggressive.
"I certainly served better today," 17th-ranked Isner told Sky Sports. "I was up against the number three player in the world so extremely happy with how I played today, extremely happy with how calm and collected I was on the court because the conditions were tough.
"It's easy to get frustrated out there and at times there was some pretty ugly tennis out there but I kept holding onto my serve and never panicked at any point in that match. And for sure, I played my best match that I've played all year because it's been a pretty poor year up until this point."
Chung needed just over an hour to see off the Joao Sousa as he dominated is opponent to win 6-4 6-3.
With the win, Chung advanced to his second consecutive quarter-final after also making the last eight in Indian Wells, where the 21-year-old lost to Federer.
"He's playing some of the best tennis in the world hands down," Isner said of Chung. "He's an incredible athlete, an incredible player, I'm going to have my hands full."
Juan Martin del Potro defeated Filip Krajinovic 6-4 6-2 for his 14th consecutive victory and remains on course for the 'Sunshine Double'.
"The weather was so bad to play tennis. We couldn't feel the ball 100 per cent. We couldn't hit from the baseline," Del Potro admitted. "I'm confident I will feel better tomorrow. The better weather will make me feel better on court."
Milos Raonic's serve was once again too much for France's Jeremy Chardy to handle as the Canadian cruised to a 6-3 6-4 win.
Raonic will face Del Potro in a rematch of their semi-final contest in Indian Wells, which the Argentine won en route to his first Masters 1000 title.
Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta crushed compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-0 6-3 to reach the second Masters 1000 quarter-final of his career.
He will face Kevin Anderson after the South African defeated 20-year-old American Frances Tiafoe 7-6(7-3) 6-4.
You can watch more ATP Masters 1000 action from the Miami Open when we continue our coverage on Wednesday from 8pm on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Main Event.
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