Third-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas has beaten Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin 6-3 4-6 6-4 to reach the fourth round of the Miami Open, his first on-court action after a bye and walkover in the opening rounds.
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Tsitsipas had 12 aces in his first victory since an opening-round win in Rotterdam over Emil Ruusuvuori in mid-February.
After losing the first set, Garin won eight straight points late in the second to force a decisive third. Second seed Tsitsipas had a critical break at 4-all in the final set and advanced.
Tsitsipas, who withdrew from Acapulco due to a shoulder injury and lost in the opening round in Indian Wells, overcame 21 unforced errors in his first match of the tournament.
"I was waiting for a very long time to get out and play," Tsitsipas said. "It has almost felt like a vacation this past week, staying in Miami.
"I am glad I got started. It was a difficult match against an opponent who has played good tennis against good opponents in the past.
"I am happy with the way things turned around and my confidence towards the end. I had an eye-on-the-prize attitude and it was effective with how I played in the last game when he was serving."
Tsitsipas will take on Karen Khachanov, who eased past Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-2 6-4.
In other action, Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina surprised sixth-ranked and fifth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 6-2 7-5.
Cerundolo, a semi-finalist in Miami last year, has faced Auger-Aliassime in third-round matches of every ATP Masters 1000 or Grand Slam event this year - all the previous matches won by the Canadian.
Cerundolo said he fed off the energy of the crowd.
"Super happy to get another top-10 win, another important win for me," he said.
"I played really good from beginning to end. Super nice to play here. A lot of Argentinian, Latin people.
"Last year was amazing. So I'm really excited to be in the round of 16 again and try to keep winning."
Cerundolo will face Italy's Lorenzo Sonego, who was a 6-3 6-4 winner over No.12 seed Frances Tiafoe in a match slowed by a two-hour rain delay.
Quentin Halys of France eliminated American Mackenzie McDonald 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 and will next take on fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev, who advanced in a walkover.
Adrian Mannarino of France beat Hubert Hurkacz of Poland 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (9-7). In the next round he will play American Chris Eubanks, who rallied from a 2-6 deficit in the second set to beat Frenchman Gregoire Barrere 6-3 7-6 (9-7).
Australian Associated Press
