Anderson's losing streak at Masters 1000 level extends to 10 matches; Carreno Busta to play Alexander Zverev in semi-finals
Friday 30 March 2018 15:45, UK
Pablo Carreno Busta reached the Miami Open semi-final after an absorbing three-set victory against Kevin Anderson, as the South African missed out on his maiden Masters 1000 semi-final once again.
The South African was on a nine-match losing streak at Masters 1000 level and after he saved two match points to force a third set, crumbled under the pressure in the deciding tiebreak - to enable Carreno Busta a 6-4 7-5 7-6(8-6) win.
Carreno Busta had lost in each of the pair's four previous meetings but earned a measure of revenge for his loss to the big-hitting US Open finalist at Indian Wells earlier this month.
"It was difficult to lose two match points, but I just needed to keep going," Carreno Busta, who saved a match point of his own in the third set tiebreak, said.
"I am so happy. The support of the crowd was fantastic."
The Spanish No 3 broke his big-hitting opponent in the seventh game of the first set before he maintained his composure to serve out for the first set and take the early initiative.
After early breaks in the second set, Carreno Busta brought up the chance to serve out for a straight-sets victory, only to falter from one point from victory against his resolute opponent.
Anderson secured back-to-back breaks to force a decider and after both players held serve to bring up a tiebreak, it was Carreno Busta who prevailed in a dramatic finish to the contest.
The world No 8 will go on to face Germany's Alexander Zverev who beat Borna Coric 6-4 6-4.
Zverev, who won 83 per cent of his first serve points, broke for 3-2 in the first and served out the final game of the set to love, and got a crucial break in the second for 5-4.
In the first semi-final on Friday, fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro will take on the USA's John Isner.
You can watch more ATP Masters 1000 action from the Miami Open when we continue our coverage on Friday from 6pm on Sky Sports Arena.
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