Boulter loses to Azarenka in Miami fourth round
British number one Katie Boulter is out of the Miami Open after a fourth-round defeat by Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
The 27-year-old, ranked 30th in the world, lost 7-5 6-1.
World number one Iga Swiatek is also out after a 6-4 6-2 defeat by 14th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia.
American world number three Coco Gauff was stunned by French 23rd seed Caroline Garcia, who reached the last eight in Miami for the first time with a 6-3 1-6 6-2 victory.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Azarenka, 34, will play Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals.
Garcia, who beat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the previous round, will play American Danielle Collins for a place in the semi-finals.
Collins beat Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-3 6-2 to progress to the last eight.
Elsewhere, Kazakhstan’s world number four Elena Rybakina progressed with a 6-3 7-5 win over American Madison Keys to set up a meeting with Greek eighth seed Maria Sakkari.
Sakkari moved into the quarter-finals with a walkover after Russian opponent Anna Kalinskaya withdrew.
America fifth-seed Jessica Pegula progressed to the last eight with a 7-6 6-3 win over Emma Navarro and will face Alexandrova.
Boulter battles but falls short
Boulter had made it through to the fourth round of the tournament for the first time by beating Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets.
The Briton broke back to deny Azarenka as the former world number one served for the first set, before saving two break points to level the opener at 5-5.
But three-time Miami champion Azarenka struck again two games later, breaking Boulter to love to clinch a tight first set.
The second set proved much more one-sided as Azarenka stormed into a 5-0 lead with a double break before Boulter was able to get on the board in the sixth game.
Boulter managed to save two match points but she could not deny Azarenka, whose upcoming opponent Putintseva beat Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
Swiatek overpowered by Alexandrova
Swiatek, who was hoping to complete the sunshine double of Indian Wells and the Miami Open, was broken in the opening game of the match.
The Pole then struggled to handle the power of Alexandrova’s service game and from the baseline.
“Second quarter-final here, second year in a row,” Alexandrova said. “Beating Iga after so many tries and she’s number one. It’s the first time I beat the number one. All three things are very special to me.
“I’m not sure if it’s a surprise or not, but I just worked quite hard on the court and it paid off.”
‘I had the match in control’ – Gauff
Gauff, 20, who won her maiden Grand Slam at the US Open last year, was hoping to do better in her home tournament.
“I’m the type of person where every loss weighs on me heavy, especially one like today where I felt I could have done better and I felt like I had the match in control, especially after the second set,” said Gauff.
“It helps being home, so I can just drive and be home and be in my own bed.
“I wish I could have done better this hard-court season.”
Gauff, who lost to Swiatek in the 2022 French Open final, added she was “excited” for the upcoming clay season.