(Miami) Jannik Sinner, 11and world, qualified for the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Miami on Tuesday by dominating 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 the whimsical Australian Nick Kyrgios (102and) who, before losing the match, lost his temper.
Posted at 3:39 p.m.
The Italian, finalist last year, will face the American Frances Tiafoe (31and) or Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (103and) for a place in the last four.
Sinner and Kyrgios should have faced each other in 8are final in Indian Wells but the Italian, ill, withdrew.
This time, he was present and did not let himself be distracted by his opponent’s antics.
While the match was hung, Kyrgios gradually lost his calm: he began to argue more and more vehemently with the referee until taking a penalty point in the tiebreaker of the first inning, which allowed Sinner to lead 6 to 3 with three set points. The first was enough.
And at the change of sides that followed the loss of the set, Kyrgios again verbally attacked the referee before smashing his racket on his bag and then on the ground. He then received a penalty game, thus offering the break to Sinner.
The Australian continued to speak, more or less under his breath, at the risk of being disqualified. He stayed on the court until the end, but faced with the solidity of the game and the mentality of his opponent, he bowed.