Miami Open: Alcaraz, Sinner, Murray cruise into third round

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz treated patient Miami fans to a display of his all-court skills inside Hard Rock Stadium Saturday night, dismissing fellow Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2, 6-1 to reach the third round.

“I defended well in the humid conditions,” said Alcaraz, who won more than 50 per cent of points when in defensive positions. “I had to be patient.

“I had to adapt to the conditions; the ball goes differently to Indian Wells and I had to see how it would be. I’m really happy with my performance and how I hit the ball.”

Resilient fans who had endured lengthy rain delays on Friday and during Saturday’s day session delighted in the five-time ATP Masters 1000 champion’s blend of power and finesse.

Alcaraz next faces the winner of resurgent French veteran Gael Monfils and in-form Australian Jordan Thompson.

Also, Daniil Medvedev made a confident start to his title defense at the Miami Open presented by Itau Saturday, defeating Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 6-2 to reach the third round.

Medvedev is attempting to successfully defend a title for the first time in his career. The 28-year-old has won 20 different titles, including 18 on hard court. He next faces No. 30 seed Cameron Norrie, who defeated 21-year-old Italian Flavio Cobolli 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-2.

Seventh seed Casper Ruud needed three sets to win his opener, finishing strong to defeat #NextGenATP Frenchman Luca Van Assche 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-1 in two hours. Ruud dropped serve twice but converted five of seven break opportunities on his opponent’s serve. The Norwegian will next play 27th-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who defeated 19-year-old Chinese Shang Juncheng.

Andy Murray claimed consecutive match wins for the first time since Toronto last year when he defeated No. 29 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(0), 6-3. The 14-time ATP Masters 1000 champion, who now has 31 career match wins in Miami, next meets Czech Tomas Machac, who upset fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the second round.

Jannik Sinner was made to wait overnight for the chance to seal an opening win at the Miami Open presented by Itau by the Florida rain. The second seed ensured it was worth the wait on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium, where he breezed past Andrea Vavassori 6-3, 6-4.

Now 14-3 in Miami, the two-time finalist Sinner will take on Tallon Griekspoor next at the ATP Masters 1000 event. The Dutchman earlier recovered after squandering two match points in the second-set tie-break to edge #NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen 7-6(5), 6-7(7), 6-4.