Fernando Verdasco drew on his big-match experience on Monday to beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in a third-set tie-break for a place in the Miami Open presented by Itau fourth round.
The Spanish No. 31 seed recovered from a 1-3 deficit in the third set and trailed 0/3 in the tie-break, but dug deep to beat Roger Federer’s conqueror, Thanasi Kokkinakis, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) in two hours and 54 minutes.
Kokkinakis, currently No. 175 in the ATP Rankings after a series of injuries, who upset World No. 1 and defending champion Federer 3-6, 6-3 7-6(4) on Friday. He saved three break points at 4-4 — in a 16-point game — in the deciding set, but paid the price for losing four straight points in the tie-break.
Verdasco, the 2009 and 2010 Miami quarter-finalist, will next challenge fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, the No. 16 seed, who booked his place in the fourth round for the first time by beating Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-4 in 78 minutes.
The top seed remaining in the top quarter of the draw had it tough against a two-time ATP World Tour titlist, but No. 6 Kevin Anderson battled to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory against No. 32 Karen Khachanov. The South African will have a chance to reach his second consecutive ATP World Tour Masters 1000 quarter-final when he plays No. 10 Tomas Berdych or Delray Beach Open champion Frances Tiafoe in the Round of 16.
Anderson has reached the final at three of his five events this season, winning the New York Open (def. Querrey) and finishing runner-up at Pune (l. to Simon) and Acapulco (l. to Del Potro). The 31-year-old is attempting to make the quarter-final in Miami for the second time, after losing at that stage in 2011 against Novak Djokovic. He is now 16-4 on the season.
The South African faced a stern test against the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier. But after getting broken in the opening set, he did not face a break point in the rest of the match.
Did You Know?
Carreno Busta was 0-4 in Miami prior to this event.
