Fritz Gets Going In Miami With Kukushkin Win

After his dream run to the title in Indian Wells, the 2022 Sunshine Double is only getting better for Taylor Fritz at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

The American was made to work by qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin but used his trademark big serving to good effect on his way to a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory and reach the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday.

The 11th seed will have no interest in stopping there as he seeks to become the first man to win in both Indian Wells and Miami in the same year since Roger Federer in 2017. Playing with confidence after rising to a career-high No. 13 in the ATP Rankings, Fritz combined a solid ground game with his trademark big serving to oust Kukushkin despite dropping the second set in south Florida.

The American was particularly pleased with how his body held up in its first competitive test since his exertions in California. "Physically it was really good," said Fritz after the match. "I was a little worried about my ankle. I have been definitely kind of holding back in practice the last couple of days, kind of just went once a day, took it easy.

"Honestly, today it felt great and I'm super happy with my tennis, the whole three sets. Even the set I lost I thought I played well. He was honestly too good when he was beating me. It was a really tough match. [I'm] happy to get through it."

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It was a bright display from Kukushkin, who notched his first tour-level win of 2022 in the first round against Botic van de Zandschulp, but the World No. 159 ultimately lacked the weapons to consistently hurt the powerful American on Saturday.

An early break to love was enough for Fritz to secure the opening set as the No. 1 American stayed solid on serve, but Kukushkin fought admirably and took his chance by converting his first break point of the match at 6-5 in the second set to force a decider.

Despite the setback normal service resumed on the Fritz delivery in the third set, and Kukushkin’s lack of penetration in return games continued to give the American freedom to attack. Two breaks in the decider secured the win for Fritz as he extended his ATP Head2Head series lead over the Kazakh to 3-0.

Fritz’s final serving numbers told the story of the match, the American firing seven aces and winning 85 per cent (41/48) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

He will next face compatriot Tommy Paul, who battled hard for a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3) victory over 23rd seed Karen Khachanov earlier on Saturday.

Paul’s straight-sets first-round victory over Benjamin Bonzi was his first main-draw win in Miami and, just like he did against Alexander Zverev in the second round in Indian Wells, the World No. 37 held his nerve against Khachanov to clinch victory via a deciding set tie-break.

Fritz and Paul’s two previous tour-level meetings both took place in 2021, with Fritz winning an October clash in St. Petersburg and Paul coming out on top in Stockholm in November. Fritz has been impressed with the way his friend's game has also developed in recent months and expects a tough battle ahead.

"I think the conditions here are good for him," said Fritz. "He's probably one of the best movers on tour. These are very slow courts, [it is] very tough to put the ball away here.

"He's going to be coming to net quite a bit and it's never easy playing one of your best friends. But in the past, I have done well when playing my friends. It's going to be a really tough match because he's playing well."

Also on Saturday, Miomir Kecmanovic continued to cause upsets at Masters 1000 level as he produced a top-class performance to brush aside World No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime with a 6-4, 6-2 victory and surge into the fourth round in Miami for the first time.

After equalling his career-best run at Indian Wells last week by beating Marin Cilic and Matteo Berrettini on his way to reaching the quarter-finals, Kecmanovic came out firing against Auger-Aliassime. The Serb looked settled following his straight-sets victory over former quarter-finalist Jack Sock in the first round, and he appeared to catch Auger-Aliassime cold as he extended his ATP Head2Head series lead over the Canadian to 2-0.

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