Carreno Busta, Zverev reach Miami Open semi-finals

Alexander Zverev remains on target for his third ATP Masters title after dismantling Borna Coric 6-4, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Pablo Carreno Busta for a place in Sunday’s Miami Open final. The German world number five produced a supremely solid display and was excellent value for this deserved victory against Coric who was ultimately overpowered and outmaneuvered. Zverev, who enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2017 after winning the Italian Open in Rome and the Canada Masters by beating Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer respectively, is keen for more of the same at Key Biscayne.

See you in the semis, Sascha. #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/V05Ue83jV3

— Miami Open (@MiamiOpen) March 30, 2018

Play was delayed for over an hour because of a problem with the Crandon Park floodlights but when the action finally began, the restless crowd were treated to an absorbing match-up between two of the rising stars of the men’s game. And in the end it was Zverev who emerged victorious after just 84 minutes, executing the perfect balance between pressurizing the Coric serve, and comfortably holding his own.

Semis for Sascha ?

Zverev nets his first career win over Coric 6-4, 6-4 to reach maiden #MiamiOpen semifinals. pic.twitter.com/5o36zzoPEK

— Miami Open (@MiamiOpen) March 30, 2018

Zverev, 20, had lost both his previous matches against the 21-year-old Croatian, at Cincinnati in 2015 and two years later at the US Open. Yet the German started well in the bid to finally get to the Miami last four after losing at this stage for the previous two years. With his serve reaching 137 mph, he was able to keep Coric in check while adopting the an aggressive mindset.

He had an 0-4 record vs Anderson and an 0-4 record at #MiamiOpen entering the tournament. Now Carreno Busta is into SF, saving M.P. in a 6-4 5-7 7-6(6) win over Anderson.

➡️ https://t.co/XL0b3Stv2m pic.twitter.com/Vsnw4hUjWA

— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) March 29, 2018

Carreno Busta has never played Zverev before. He will head into Friday night’s match full of confidence after beating Anderson in a dramatic third set tie-break. Anderson had saved two match points in the second set but the gleeful Spaniard eventually prevailed, reaching his second ATP Masters semi-final. It was just his second win over a top 10 player in 23 attempts, and his first over Anderson in five attempts.