Miami (AP) – Defending champion Hubert Hurkacz denied Daniil Medvedev the hoped-for return to the top of the world tennis rankings at the Masters 1000 tournament in Miami.
The 25-year-old Pole defeated the one-year-old Russian 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, Hurkacz will now meet the only 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz or the Serb Miomir Kecmanovic.
Just a few weeks ago, Medvedev replaced Novak Djokovic at the top of the world rankings. Due to the early exit at the tournament in Indian Wells, the Russian immediately lost the top position again – and now also missed the chance to return. The Serbian Djokovic could not start in the two big hard court tournaments in the USA due to his lack of a corona vaccination.
Alexander Zverev had previously suffered the next disappointment this season in Miami. The 24-year-old from Hamburg lost 3: 6, 6: 1, 3: 6 against the Norwegian Casper Ruud. In the semifinals, a duel with the surprise man Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina would have been waiting, who now meets Ruud.
