MIAMI, United States, Mar 27 – Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a record seventh Miami Open ATP title ended in dramatic fashion on Tuesday as Roberto Bautista Agut superbly recovered from a first set destruction to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 and book a place in the quarter-finals.

And the top seeds kept falling as women’s world number two Petra Kvitova slumped to a surprise 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 6-2 defeat to Australian Ashleigh Barty.

Bautista Agut, 30, may have beaten Djokovic on the way to winning the title in Doha earlier this year but 15-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic started like a train in this last 16 encounter before being amazingly reined back in.

After just 25 minutes, Djokovic was 5-0 ahead and on cruise control, Bautista Agut severely struggling to keep the Serbian at bay.

A short rain delay late in the second set allowed Bautista Agut to regroup, however.

He returned a completely different player and at the end of an absorbing two hours and 29 minutes, it was the number 22 seed who will now meet defending champion John Isner for a place in the semi-finals.

“I played more aggressive,” said Bautista Agut who began to noticeably step inside and force Djokovic onto the back foot. “I tried to miss less balls, to really concentrate on the beginning of the point with my serve, with my return.”

With Roger Federer’s match with Daniil Medvedev postponed until Wednesday after a spell of heavy rain forced tournament officials into a reshuffle, all the focus remained on Djokovic’s shock exit.

The reigning Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion left court and headed straight to a press conference to try and explain this most remarkable of turnarounds at Hard Rock Stadium.

“He is a solid player but I shouldn’t have lost this match, I had way too many wasted opportunities,” said the world number one, who also failed to make the latter stages of Indian Wells this month.

“I thought I played well today and during this tournament but two or three sluggish games and that’s what happens.”

Djokovic, who also hinted his vociferous involvement in ATP tennis politics which saw President Chris Kermode ousted this month may have affected his focus, was initially consistent with his serve during the opening set.

He mixed up is shots superbly, blending power and subtlety to keep his opponent guessing.

However, a drop in Djokovic’s level coupled with a rise in Bautista Agut’s aggression saw a complete reversal in fortunes after a 30 minute weather delay. The Spaniard grabbed two set points, the second of which was taken when the Serbian netted a forehand.

Bautista Agut broke again for 3-1 in the third following an uncharacteristic double fault and although Djokovic hit back in the very next game, the Spaniard again took advantage of his opponent’s faltering serve to move within two games of victory.

– Auger-Aliassime advances –

Serving for the match, he brought up two match points, another forehand winner sealing one of the best comebacks of his career and his third win over the world number one from their last five matches.

Big-serving Isner moved into the last eight with a 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/3) triumph over Great Britain’s world number 22 Kyle Edmund.

Elsewhere there was a brilliant win for 18 year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime, the Canadian who came through qualifying, who beat Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

Auger-Aliassime, who is set to become the first player born in the 2000s to break into the top 50 when the rankings are updated next week, plays Borna Coric after the Croatian beat Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The controversial Australian was furious after being heckled by a fan during the third set and was docked a point after responding with an expletive. Something similar happened Sunday night.

“I’m not going to take it, ” said Kyrgios, who admitted he became “a little bored” during the second set.”

In the women’s draw, Barty, who beat Kvitova for the first time having gone into the clash 0-4, will play Anett Kontaveit for a place in Saturday’s final after the Estonian brought an end to Hsieh Su-Wei’s impressive run with a 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory to reach the last four in South Florida for the first time.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Logau2019s Sudan ends Kenyau2019s Olympic dream

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Tuesday, 26th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Bautista stuns Djokovic, Barty topples Kvitova in Miamirn

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 50 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn RFU voices fears over Nations Championship proposalsrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 14 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn ‘Ronaldo Alarm’ for Juve ahead of Champions League quartersrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 17 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Federer to play Madrid Masters on clay returnrn

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 17 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Mick Schumacher to test Ferrari F1 car in Bahrainrn

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 22 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn McGregor announces his retirement from MMA, againrn

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 1 day ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Is Tuyisenge headed for the exit at Gor?rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Boxingrn rn rn rn rn Zarika banking on experience to floor Phirirn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Boxingrn rn rn rn rn Zarika stops hard punching Phiri to defend WBC titlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Sudan hits Kenya in U23 AFCON qualifierrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Harambee Stars lose to Ghana to finish secondrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Obiri sets sights on first world cross goldrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Gangla elected new Kenya Rugby Union chairrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Tanzania beats Uganda to qualify for AFCONrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Gor to face Morocco's Berkane in CC quartersrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Bautista stuns Djokovic, Barty topples Kvitova in Miami

rn rn rn Gamern rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Sterling calls for Premier League to clamp down on racism

rn rn rn rn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

A day in the life of Harambee Stars Captain Victor Wanyama

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Portland’s Nurkic has surgery in wake of horror injury

rn rn rn rn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Ireland ignore tennis ball protest to sink Georgia

rn rn rn rn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL GOR MAHIA ADVANCE TO CAF CONFEDERATION CUP QUARTERS?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Gabriel Jesus brace hands Brazil 3-1 win in Czech Republic

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Morata double gives Spain victory over Malta

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

‘Sod off and play for someone else’: McClean fumes over Rice’s Ireland snub

rn rn rn rn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Solskjaer boosted by Mourinho’s work, claims Van Gaal

rn rn rn rn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Conor McGregor under investigation for sex assault – report

rn rn rn rn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Bautista stuns Djokovic, Barty topples Kvitova in Miamirn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Sterling calls for Premier League to clamp down on racismrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn ALEX ISABOKErn A day in the life of Harambee Stars Captain Victor Wanyamarn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Portland’s Nurkic has surgery in wake of horror injuryrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Ireland ignore tennis ball protest to sink Georgiarn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tIs Tuyisenge headed for the exit at Gor?rn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 21st Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tZarika banking on experience to floor Phirirn

rn Boxingrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tZarika stops hard punching Phiri to defend WBC titlern

rn Boxingrn rn Sunday, 24th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tSudan hits Kenya in U23 AFCON qualifierrn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tHarambee Stars lose to Ghana to finish secondrn

rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 24th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tObiri sets sights on first world cross goldrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Friday, 22nd Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tGangla elected new Kenya Rugby Union chairrn

rn Rugbyrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tTanzania beats Uganda to qualify for AFCONrn

rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 24th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tGor to face Morocco's Berkane in CC quartersrn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Bautista stuns Djokovic, Barty topples Kvitova in Miamirn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Sterling calls for Premier League to clamp down on racismrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn ALEX ISABOKErn A day in the life of Harambee Stars Captain Victor Wanyamarn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Portland’s Nurkic has surgery in wake of horror injuryrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Ireland ignore tennis ball protest to sink Georgiarn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */