Del Potro, Raonic advance, Cilic ousted by Isner at Miami

Stephens beats Kerber to reach semifinals

FE Team | Published: March 28, 2018 23:35:33

MIAMI, March 28 (AFP): Juan Martin del Potro sent his devoted fans home happy Tuesday by powering into the ATP Miami Open quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Serbian Filip Krajinovic.
Roared on by a partisan crowd, the 29-year-old Argentinian recovered from 1-4 down in the first set to reel off nine games in a row on his way to a last-eight match with Canada's Milos Raonic on Wednesday.
Del Potro's welcome return to form and fitness saw him win the Indian Wells title and continue to impress at the last tournament in Key Biscayne before a move north to the NFL Miami Dolphins' home stadium next year.
"Playing here they make it special for the South American players and I am trying to enjoy the last time playing in Key Biscayne," Del Potro said. "I know many Argentine fans live here and are so close. I will miss them."
Windy conditions hampered players all day and the former US Open champion took time to find his groove in his first meeting with 27th-ranked Krajinovic.
"The weather was so bad to play tennis. We couldn't feel the ball 100 percent. We couldn't hit from the baseline," Del Potro admitted.
"I'm confident I will feel better tomorrow. The better weather will make me feel better on court."
Raonic, who easily saw off Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-4, lost to del Potro in the Indian Wells semi-finals and will be eagerly seeking revenge.
"It will be a different match to the one we played in Indian Wells, different conditions," Del Potro said. "Milos is improving and playing very solid. He has the potential to win the tournament. It will be a good match to test my fitness and see what level I'm at.
"I don't feel pressure. I am just going down my own road and seeing how far I can get. I am not thinking about ranking or anything. Just the last time here in Key Biscayne."
Del Potro is the top seed remaining after second seed Marin Cilic was beaten 7-6 (7/0), 6-3 by American John Isner. The Croatian's run was halted by big-serving Isner in just 87 minutes to set up a last-eight meeting with South Korean 19th seed Chung Hyeon.
It was a fine performance by Isner, the 14th seed, who rattled down 12 aces and was boosted by winning 85 percent of points on his first serve. All three of Isner's wins over the 2014 US Open champion have now come in ATP Masters events and once a first set tie-break was negotiated in windswept conditions, the 32 year-old confidently held his nerve to send Cilic home.