We just saw a surprise champion emerge in the desert, as Taylor Fritz triumphed in Indian Wells. Only a few days later, the tour is taking its talents to South Beach and the results could be just as crazy.
After all, no members of the Big 3 are present for the Miami Open. Novak Djokovic is unable to enter the United States as an unvaccinated foreigner, Rafael Nadal withdrew two weeks ago citing rest in advance of the clay-court swing (and now he is hurt, anyway), and Roger Federer remains sidelined for the longer term. With top three seeds Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas not in great form, the door is completely wide open.
Tsitsipas’ section of the draw is especially rough. The fourth-ranked Greek could face Alex de Minaur in the third round, Miami semifinalist Carlos Alcaraz in the last 16, and Rotterdam champion Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals. Like Tsitsipas, Auger-Aliassime is well-rested after losing early in Indian Wells and the Canadian was a Miami semifinalist as an 18-year-old in 2019.
Medvedev and Tsitsipas are on a collision course for the semis at the tournament where their rivalry began in 2018, but there is good chance neither one advances that far. Andy Murray is likely first up for Medvedev, Roberto Bautista Agut almost always plays well in Miami, and Hubert Hurkacz is the defending champion. Thus the top-seeded Russian has plenty of roadblocks in his quarter.
In the bottom half of the draw, big servers like Reilly Opelka, John Isner, and Nick Kyrgios often thrive in Miami conditions and they will be looking to capitalize if top seeds like Zverev, Andrey Rublev, and Matteo Berrettini stumbled. Rublev vs. Kyrgios is a potential mouth-watering second-round matchup.
Quarterfinal predictions: Roberto Bautista Agut over Hubert Hurkacz, Felix Auger-Aliassime over Carlos Alcaraz, Reilly Opelka over Jannik Sinner, and Cameron Norrie over Grigor Dimitrov
Semifinals: Auger-Aliassime over Bautista Agut and Opelka over Norrie
Final: Auger-Aliassime over Opelka
i already know this is not going to go well for me
Wow Ricky, I think you are way off on this one. I have Medvedev over Rublev. Rublev may be tired and not make it though. I almost took Alcaraz over Medvedev, but couldn’t pull the trigger.
Its bascially a stinker to predict. Interesting thing is Meddy has a terrible record against RBA and Hurkacz.
RBA a good bet to go far but he has to play Brooksby.
Isner and Opelka : Havent a clue . Rublev and Norrie are in their way
FAA v Korda: :dunno:
QF: Medvedev over Hurkacz, Alcaraz over Auger-Aliassime, Opelka over Kyrgios, Zverev over Ruud.
SF: Alcaraz over Medvedev, Zverev over Opelka.
F: Alcaraz over Zverev.
I have Medvedev and Zverev going far even though their forms are not great because their draws are very soft or easy.
Zverev is a dodgy bet at the moment with all the controversy.He could go out anytime.I like Alcaraz and Opelka going far.
Both Zverev and Tsitsi in very dubious form.
I wonder if Alcaraz will finally break through. But for Rafa he would have won IW.
I’ve just done my bracket and have him in the semis with Norrie losing to Rublev in the final.But I’ve no confidence .
I’ve got Zverev losing to Sinner and Sinner losing to FAA in the final. Don’t laugh! 🙂
Got Alvaraz going deep but predict him doing well in the clay season.
I’ve changed Opelka to Monfils going far..watch me get that wrong
Betting on Monfils normally means losing a lot of money…
I reckon if Alcaraz were to play Rublev he would win.
Yeah, I’ve got Monfils taking out Opelka, you just never know!
Yours sounds like Gil Grosses predictions he had FAA winning .And Monfils going far. He is in good form , but can he beat Opelka?
I think Ive got Alcaraz losing to Rublev in the final