DARIAN KING will be hitting with the big boys again.
Barbados’ top ranked tennis pro is through to another major main draw, having advanced through the qualifying rounds of the Miami Open after winning via walkover earlier today.
The 24-year-old King was slated to face Reilly Opelka first on court 1 this morning but the American was a surprising no-show for the final-round qualifying match.
Opelka’s mysterious absence puts King into his second ATP Masters 1000 main draw in as many weeks following the Bajan ace’s historic performance at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Qualifying for his first ever ATP Masters event, King beat world no.55 Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-5, 7-5 in the first round and then stunned the 11th-ranked Gael Monfils in the first set before ultimately losing 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.
As a result, King surpassed his previous career-best ranking of 130, moving up the ladder to a new high of no.121 when the latest Emirates ATP rankings were released on Monday.
It’s been a whirlwind start to the season for the talented baseliner, who also shocked former world no.17 Bernard Tomic in straight sets at the Memphis Open for his first ever ATP 250 win last month. (JM)
