Del Potro advances as Dimitrov falls in Miami
Cilic survives Pospisil test to progress to fourth round
Croatian second seed Marin Cilic survived a tough examination by Canadian Vasek Pospisil to reach the fourth round of the Miami Open with a 7-5, 7-6 victory, which took nearly two hours.
But the tournament, with world No. 1 Roger Federer already ousted, lost another high-ranked player when Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the third seed, was taken down 6-4, 6-4 by Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.
Indian Wells champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, the fifth seed, was more fortunate, winning his 13th consecutive match by defeating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-2.
The big-hitting Cilic fired six aces and saved all three break points he faced against Pospisil, but the 77th-ranked Canadian made it more difficult than the Croat probably expected.
Trailing 5-6 0-40 in the second set, the Canadian saved three consecutive match points and hit a running forehand pass to cap a 33-shot rally before Cilic claimed victory in the tiebreak.
“It was a relief at the end,” Cilic said. “I saved the best for last and I’m really pleased with the victory.”
Del Potro fired 17 winners, claiming all five points when coming to the net and turned back Nishikori’s lone break chance to take the match in 72 minutes.
In the women’s draw, Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig defeated Greek Maria Sakkari 6-3, 7-5. In her first confrontation with Sakkari, the World No. 82 showed a similar power on the attack which allowed her to eliminate world No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki in the second round.