Nick Kyrgios relied on stellar serving to defeat No. 8 seed David Goffin in the fourth round of Miami 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Kyrgios’s quarterfinal opponent will be Alexander Zverev, who earlier in the day came back from a set down against top seed Stan Wawrinka to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The two rising stars met for the first time two weeks ago in Indian Wells. Kyrgios — 21 years old — beat Zverev — 19 — 6-3, 6-4.
Miami quarterfinal lineup (in order of intrigue):
Kyrgios vs. Zverev
Nadal vs. Sock
Federer vs. Berdych
Nishikori vs. Fognini
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) March 29, 2017
Serving was key in Kyrgios’s win over Goffin. The Australian did not lose his serve the entire match.
The first set was extremely clean and went to a tiebreak.
Goffin got an early mini-break with a backhand winner down the line to take a 2-0 lead, but Kyrgios got the break right by winning a line challenge. Kyrgios, with a free point off his serve and a backhand winner to follow it, went up 4-3.
At 4-4, Goffin missed a backhand long on his own serve, giving Kyrgios a 5-4 advantage and a chance to serve out the set. Kyrgios hit an unreturned serve for 6-4, but Goffin then hit a forehand winner down the line to put the tiebreak back on serve. The Belgian then missed a forehand long to lose the tiebreak 5-7 and the set 6-7.
My gosh is Kyrgios-Goffin a satisfying match up. Could hardly be more different in style or attitude. Nick edges out the first set, 7-6(5).
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) March 29, 2017
Kyrgios served the first game of the second set. He went down 30-40 after he missed a forehand down the line, challenged and lost. He brought the game to deuce with an unreturned second serve before acing out wide for ad in. On game point, Kyrgios missed a forehand into the net, making it deuce again. He then successfully executed a one-two punch with a serve and a forehand winner for another ad in. Kyrgios went on to curl an ace up the T to secure the hold.
Things got crazy when Goffin was serving down 1-2. Kyrgios, got his first break point of the set after Goffin double-faulted. It took Kyrgios five break points in a game that went to deuce 10 times to finally break for a 3-1 lead. Goffin then threw his racket in frustration.
The players held their serves for the remainder of the set. Kyrgios won it 6-3 to complete the victory.
