World no. 1 and the defending Miami Masters champion Carlos Alcaraz is through into the fourth round in Florida. Carlos beat Dusan Lajovic 6-0, 7-6 in an hour and 31 minutes for his 16th victory from 17 matches in 2023! Alcaraz moved 6-0, 5-3 in front after 67 minutes before Lajovic bounced back to reach a tie break and extend his chances. The young gun stayed calm and claimed it 7-5 to emerge at the top. The Spaniard claimed his eighth consecutive Masters 1000 win and became the second teenager with 30 Masters 1000 triumphs after Rafael Nadal! Carlos and Dusan met for the third time in a month and a half, with the Spaniard taking all six sets. Alcaraz fired 27 winners and 26 unforced errors and reduced Lajovic to eight winners. The young gun served at 75% and saved two out of three break points. He stole half of the return points and turned them into four breaks from five opportunities, controlling the pace before losing ground a bit in the last 20 minutes.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Dusan Lajovic for a place in the Miami Masters last 16.
A teenager had the upper hand in the shortest and most advanced exchanges to emerge at the top and set the fourth-round clash against Tommy Paul. Lajovic missed a forehand in the encounter’s first game to experience an early break. Carlos saved a break point in game two with a service winner and held with another for 2-0. World no. 1 placed a deep backhand return in the third game to secure another break and extend his advantage. The young gun held at 15 in game four to extend the lead and pushed strong on the return again in the next one. Alcaraz passed Lajovic with a cracking forehand crosscourt winner that propelled him 5-0 up and closer to the opener. Carlos served for the set in game six and seized the third set point with a service winner for 6-0 in 31 minutes. The Spaniard kept everything under control and painted a forehand crosscourt winner in the second set’s third game for a 6-0, 2-1 advantage.
Alcaraz fired a service winner in the fourth game for a hold at 15 and another big step toward the finish line. World no. 1 grabbed the sixth game with a smash winner at the net to open a 4-2 gap and keep the pressure on the other side. Lajovic saved a break point in game seven to remain within one break deficit and held at 30 in game nine to prolong the action. Alcaraz served for the victory at 5-4 and got broken after a wayward backhand that kept Lajovic in contention. The set went into a tie break, and the young gun opened a 5-2 gap with an ace. He painted a backhand down the line return winner in the eighth point to create four match points. Dusan saved three and reduced the deficit to 6-5, giving his best to deliver another comeback. However, Carlos sealed the deal with a backhand winner in the 12th point that propelled him over the top and into the last 16.
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