De Minaur, Walton lose as Djokovic advances in Miami

Australians Alex de Minaur and Adam Walton both exited the Miami Open on Wednesday (AEDT) as favourite Novak Djokovic advanced with ease at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

De Minaur fought a tense encounter against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, squandering six set points to fall 6-3, 7-6(7) in the fourth round.

The world No.11 had been favourite across tennis betting sites heading into the match, but was unable to convert a 0-40 position on Berrettini’s serve at 5-4 up in the second set, or a 6-3 lead in the subsequent tiebreak.

“It means a lot, the way I won this match,” Berrettini said afterwards.

“It felt like I lost this second set, then I won it, then I lost it again, then I won it.

“Pretty tough mentally.

“Demon is an unbelievable player. He’s defending in a way I’ve never seen, so I’m really proud of myself.”

For Walton, he also fell in similar fashion, going down 6-3, 7-5 to No.3 seed Taylor Fritz.

The world No.89 had come into the match a significant underdog on top betting apps given his unlikely path to the Miami round of 16 as a lucky loser.

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Djokovic, meanwhile, found top gear against 15th seed Lorenzo Musetti, dropping just four games as he raced into the quarter-finals.

The Serbian had a slow start, getting broken at the first opportunity to go down 2-0.

However, an altercation with the chair umpire fired him up, and the 37-year-old went on a nine-game streak.

He would win 12 of the last 14 games in the match, claiming the clash 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 23 minutes.

“He had a really good start of the match, I started a little bit slow,” Djokovic said.

“I knew if I give him time, he’s going to make his shots. He’s so talented.

“It was tough, particularly in the first seven or eight games.

“It was a momentum shift, I tried to use that.

“Overall, it was a great match.”

Djokovic is now the heavy favourite to win the 2025 Miami Open, shortening to $2.50 in outright betting at BetOnline.

He takes on Sebastian Korda next, and with the American nursing a wrist injury suffered in his win over Gael Monfils, Djokovic is a $1.28 bookmaker favourite to advance to the final four.

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