Coco Gauff has progressed to the quarter-finals of the Miami Open after a hard-fought victory.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka also made it through to the quarter finals.
Gauff Overcomes Cirstea in Three Sets
Coco Gauff reached the quarter-finals with a 6-3 4-6 6-2 win over Sorana Cirstea of Romania.
The 22-year-old American served six double faults and was broken five times in a sketchy display, but she had enough to win through.
The Miami tournament is Gauff’s home event and she is eager to win the title but will not be stressing herself over doing so this year.
She came into the event on the back of a retirement at Indian Wells earlier in the month, when a nerve problem in her left arm caused her to abandon a third-round match.
“I don’t really feel pressure, I feel more supported at this event,” she said.
“I want to win this tournament so bad because it is my home tournament. But I didn’t have the best preparation, so setting expectations lower allows me to free up and not expect too much of myself.”
Sabalenka Cruises, Medvedev Knocked Out
Aryna Sabalenka made swift work of her Miami Open match against Zheng Qinwen to cruise into the quarter finals.
The reigning champion took just an hour and 25 minutes to beat her Chinese opponent 6-3 6-4.
Sabalenka, 27, has won the US Open in each of the past two years and looks in serene form. She will face Hailey Baptiste in the last eight after the American defeated Latvian Jelena Ostapenko – also by a 6-3 6-4 margin.
In the men’s draw, former world number one Daniil Medvedev was knocked out at the last-32 stage by Francisco Cerundolo.
The Argentine won 6-0 4-6 7-5 in a match during which umpire Mohamed Lahyani’s elevated chair briefly became entangled with the ‘spider cam’, the aerial camera that travels over the court during matches.
Lahyani got down from his chair as ball boys looked to prevent it toppling over.
After the unusual drama, Cerundolo said of his win: “I didn’t know what to expect, it was a great match, super tough.
“It was my first match against Daniil. He’s probably one of the only guys on tour who I have never played. He has had a great year so far.”
Looking Ahead to the Quarter-Finals
Gauff will face Amanda Anisimova or Belinda Bencic in the next round.
Sabalenka will face Hailey Baptiste in the last eight.
Gauff is eager to win the title but will not be stressing herself over doing so this year.