Last year’s Miami Open finalist Kei Nishikori thrived under the Florida sun as he came through a stern test against Kevin Anderson, winning 6-4 6-3 to advance to the third round.
The world number four and second seed won 86% of first service points as he broke down his tall South African opponent. Nishikori broke three out of six times to thrill the Miami crowd and place any doubts over an elbow injury aside to advance to the third round in Florida. Nishikori sealed victory in just under an hour and a half and put the rest of the draw on notice. It was a convincing performance from Japan’s finest who is looking to win his maiden masters event. Next up for Nishikori will either be Fernando Verdasco or Ernesto Escobedo.
Another player looking to prove a point this week is Canadian Milos Raonic, he played his first match since suffering a hamstring injury in Delray Beach. His opponent was the ever erratic Serbian Viktor Troicki, who will look to ruin the Milos party. However Raonic was too consistent for Troicki to seal a 6-3 7-5 victory in Miami. The world number five was just happy to get through the contest unscathed, ”I have to be very happy with just the outcome, that I was able to get the win today, that I have another chance to play in two days, Hopefully I can continue to progress throughout this tournament.”
Another impressive performance from Raonic, however will need to play better in the later rounds in this brutal tournament. Milos Raonic will now play Jared Donaldson in the third round who stunned 28th seed Mischa Zverev with a 6-4 6-4 victory. The American served eight aces en route to a well deserved victory.
Chardy Stuns Cilic
Jeremy Chardy stunned ninth seed Marin Cilic in a 6-4 2-6 6-3 victory. This victory should surprise nobody as the Croatian has been in horrendous form but is worth noting for seeding reasons. Chardy causing top players trouble is not unheard of but beating a top 10 player will be something he will be proud as it is his first top 10 win since the 2015 US Open.
He will now play Fabio Fognini who beat 30th seed Joao Sousa in a tense match, 7-6(8) 2-6 6-3 victory for the Italian means he beats two seeds in two consecutive masters events. An incredible feat for the controversial Italian.
Adios Pablo?
A Pablo will not win the men’s singles in Miami as Pablo Carreño Busta and Pablo Cuevas both crashed out. Carreño Busta lost to Federico Delbonis 1-6 7-5 6-2, while Cuevas lost to controversial, racket-breaking superstar Benoit Paire 7-5 6-0. Oh well there is always next year, Delbonis will either meet Gilles Simon or Jan-Lennard Struff. Benoit Paire faces Donald Young or Lucas Pouille in the third round.
Other Results, Fritz Edged Out, Vesely Recovers From Iguana Torture
Here are the other two results from the day session:
Phillip Kohlschreiber def Taylor Fritz 7-5 3-6 7-6(4)
Jiri Vesely def Albert Ramos-Viñolas 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3
