MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — Reaching the quarterfinals of a tournament used to be no big deal for Naomi Osaka. It was only a surprise if she didn’t make it.
Things are a little different now.
The former number one in the world reached the quarterfinals of the miami open —the second time he’s reached that round in a tournament this year. Osaka edged American Alison Riske 6-3, 6-4 on Monday, and now he will face Danielle Collins.
Osaka’s last quarterfinal appearance was in January’s Australian Open pre-tournament in Melbourne. Before that, their most recent trip to the quarterfinals was in Miami a year ago.
“It’s very funny to me because last year I made it to the quarterfinals here as well,” Osaka said. “It was after I won in Australia and I wasn’t so thankful. In a way I expected to win.”
The ninth-seeded Collins needed just over an hour Monday to beat 8th-seeded Ons Jabeur 6-2, 6-4 in the fourth-round match.
With this win, Collins is virtually assured of starting next week in the top 10 of the WTA rankings. She could go as high as eighth depending on how far her rivals go in the tournament.
Daria Saville also made it to the quarterfinals. She survived a three-hour matchup to beat Lucia Bronzetti 5-7, 6-4, 7-5. Saville rose an impressive 500 places in a month and a half in the world rankings; she was ranked 627th in the world in mid-February and she could crack the top 100 if she wins her next matchup against Belinda Bencic (22), who beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-3 on Monday.
Iga Swiatek (2), who will become World No.1 next week, also easily advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Coco Gauff (14) 6-3, 6-1.
In the male branch, Daniil Medvedev is two wins away from conquering the top of the ATP ranking again.
The top seed beat Spaniard Pedro Martínez 6-3, 6-4. Reaching the semi-finals would mean Medvedev would overtake Novak Djokovic to reclaim the top spot.
Medvedev’s next rival will be the American Jenson Brooksbywho recovered from trailing 0-4 in the third set to beat Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Taylor Fritz (11) — who is seeking the so-called “Sunshine Double” by winning both tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami — outlasted his friend Tommy Paul 7-6 (2), 6-4 in an all-American third round.
Defending champion Hubert Hurkacz also advanced. The 8th seed battled back to a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win over Aslan Karatsev. Meanwhile, young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz beat Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4.
