Tennis-Kecmanovic shocks Berrettini in Indian Wells, Fritz beats De Minaur

March 16, 2022; Indian Wells, California, United States; Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) shoots during his fourth round match against Matteo Berrettini (not pictured) at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

March 16, 2022

(Reuters) – Unseeded Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic stunned world number six Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-7 (5) 6-4 in the fourth round of Indian Wells on Wednesday for a quarterfinal match with the American Prepare Taylor Fritz.

Serb Kecmanovic absorbed his opponent’s powerful serve in the opener and slammed a break point chance in game four when a frustrated Berrettini gained just eight return points.

But Kecmanovic, 22, failed to finish the match when a break point opportunity slipped through his fingers late in the second set in which Berrettini, who reached his maiden Grand Slam final at Wimbledon last year, scored 21 winners and one tense won tiebreak to level.

Berrettini saved two breaks in game eight in a hard-fought final set to stay alive but Kecmanovic tumbled to break the Italian’s serve in the final game.

Next he plays against Fritz, who outlasted the Australian Alex de Minaur 3:6, 6:4, 7:6 (5). A collapse in the third, it was the second straight match Fritz won in a third-set tiebreak.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios advanced by walkover after Italy’s Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament due to illness.

(Reporting by Amy Tennery and Rory Carroll, Editing by Ed Osmond)