(Miami) Frenchman Quentin Halys joined the knockout stages of a Masters 1000 for the first time in his career on Monday at the Miami tournament, which Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime is already leaving.
After his victory in the previous round against the Australian Alex de Minaur (N.15), the 26-year-old Bondynois continued his momentum by dismissing the American Mackenzie McDonald 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
With fifteen aces and 70% of first serves, Halys was able to rely on his serve to beat, once again, a player better ranked than him (N.55).
His career is now getting tougher, since he will face the Russian Daniil Medvedev (N.5), one of the best players on the circuit today, in the next round.
That of Auger-Aliassime stopped short, at a stage unworthy of his rank (N.6), against the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, yet 31e world player (6-2, 7-5).
Titled four times last year (Basel, Antwerp, Florence and Rotterdam), the 22-year-old Montrealer has still not played in a single final this season.
Other favorites for the final victory, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov qualified for the eighth. Third player in the ATP ranking, the Greek barely beat the Chilean Cristian Garin (N.82) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Well launched in this meeting, Tsitsipas experienced a drop in speed in the second set, ideally exploited by Garin, then more conquering, not hesitating to advance in the field to conclude the points at the net.
But after the loss of this second set, the Australian Open finalist was solid to finally win. He will face in the next round the Russian Khachanov, who swept the Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-2, 6-4.
In the women’s draw, the American Jessica Pegula, third player in the WTA rankings, reached the quarter-finals without incident by defeating the Polish Magda Linette (N.20) 6-1, 7-5.
She will face the Russian Anastasia Potapova (N.26) in the quarters.
