Alex de Minaur has bowed out of the prestigious Miami Open in a rollercoaster fourth-round loss to big-serving Italian Matteo Berrettini.
De Minaur missed a swag of chances to force a deciding third set in a 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) defeat at tennis’s so-called fifth major.
In a tense finish, Australia’s 10th seed was unable to convert any of six set points but saved four match points before finally succumbing on the fifth as Berretti advanced to the quarter-finals in two hours neat on Wednesday (AEDT).
De Minaur looked on track for another signature comeback win after having Berrettini down 4-5 and love-40 in the second set.
But the former Wimbledon runner-up rallied, winning seven consecutive points, before fighting back again from 3-6 down in the tiebreaker to deny de Minaur a tour-best 18th win of the year.
De Minaur’s exit killed off the prospect of an all-Australian quarterfinal with Adam Walton, the qualifying lucky loser who was playing American third seed Taylor Fritz in another last-16 battle.
Djokovic ‘starstruck’ as Serena watches win over Musetti
Six-time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic earlier ousted Berretti’s countryman Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-2 to march to within three wins of a record-extending 41st Masters 1000 crown.
The 37-year-old Serbian superstar also edged to within three victories of a milestone 100th tour-level title in a statement showing in front of Serena Williams and Juan Martin del Potro, who watched from Djokovic’s courtside box.
“I was starstruck,” Djokovic said.
Serena Williams and Juan Martin del Potro were in Djokovic’s box as he battled Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in Miami. (Getty Images: Matthew Stockman)
“It was amazing to see first ‘DelPo’, obviously a long-time friend and a rival, so happy to have him around and get his support from the box.
“It was amazing, the first time to have DelPo in the box, so I want to thank him really for coming.
“And Serena, that was a surprise. I didn’t know. Actually, when I had that down-the-line passing shot, I pointed to her and asked her whether it was OK.
“She kind of said, ‘Yeah, it was fine’. If Serena says it was fine, then it was amazing by everyone else’s standards. So yeah, great to have them.”
AAP
