Search

show me:

Popyrin and Duckworth march on in Miami

3 minute read

James Duckworth was left celebrating the biggest win of his career against David Goffin at the Miami Open while fellow Aussie Alexei Popyrin also marched on.

JAMES DUCKWORTH.
JAMES DUCKWORTH. Picture: Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Australian James Duckworth is celebrating the biggest win of his career after outclassing world No.13 David Goffin 6-3 6-1 to reach the third round of the Miami Open.

Duckworth's young compatriot Alexei Popyrin also enjoyed another fine victory in his increasingly impressive breakthrough year, downing the giant American Reilly Opelka 6-4 6-2 in his second round match.

The two Sydneysiders were in action in morning matches on Friday and both came out of the blocks firing with Duckworth, in only his third ATP 1000 tournament, immediately taking command against a hopelessly out-of-sorts eighth seed Goffin.

The world No.104, Australia's sixth-ranked man whose career has been hampered down the years by injury struggles, raced through the first three games to take control of the opening set and never relinquished his grip as Goffin gifted 32 unforced errors.

Although Goffin held his serve at the start of the second, Duckworth reeled off six straight games and had the Belgian on the back foot as he hammered 22 winners and dropped only four points on serve in his superb 77-minute display.

The 29-year-old's reward is a last-32 date with Kazakhstani No. 32 seed Alexander Bublik, who beat Laslo Djere of Serbia 6-3-6-4.

Meanwhile, the 21-year-old Popyrin just seems to keep getting better in the year which has already seen him lift his maiden ATP title in Singapore.

The big-serving battle with 30th seed Opelka, the tallest man on the circuit at 2.11 metres, was always destined to be an ace fest - and the Australian prevailed in that contest-within-a-contest, delivering 13 to the American's dozen.

"All of the hard work I've put in the pre-season is paying off, 10 wins in 13 matches," a delighted Popyrin told ATPTour.com.

"I really thought I was consistent during the match. Putting in lots of returns is difficult when Reilly is firing down 230 km/h bombs."

Popyrin was largely untroubled on his own huge serve except for the fifth game of the opening set, when he had to save two break points.

He then took his chance in the 10th game, converting his only break point of the set before taking command in the second, reeling off four straight games to seal his win in 66 minutes.

It sets up a last-32 contest with world No.2 Daniil Medvedev, who beat Taiwan's Yen-Hsun Lu 6-2 6-2 in under an hour.

"I am happy that I managed to keep my nerve, play solid and not make so many mistakes," said Medvedev in an on-court interview.

"Everything worked well and I am looking forward to the next round."

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au