Miami R3 previews and predictions: Zverev vs. Ferrer, Verdasco vs. Kokkinakis

Thanasi Kokkinakis will be back in action in Miami two days after upsetting Roger Federer, as he faces Fernando Verdasco during third-round action. Another veteran Spaniard, David Ferrer, is going up against Alexander Zverev.

(4) Alexander Zverev vs. (28) David Ferrer

Zverev and Ferrer will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers and for the second time this season when they meet again in round three of the Miami Open on Monday. Ferrer leads the head-to-head series 2-1, but Zverev recently prevailed 6-4, 6-3 on the indoor hard courts of Rotterdam. The veteran Spaniard previously got the job done 6-0, 6-1 on the red clay of Hamburg back in 2014 and 6-7(4), 6-1, 7-5 two years ago in Beijing.

Ferrer was a shadow of his former self at this time last year, but the 35-year-old is healthy and in the midst of a relative resurgence. Ranked high enough (No. 35) to be seeded in Miami, Ferrer reached the semifinals in Auckland, the Indian Wells third round, and he has not lost to anyone ranked worse than 49th (Karen Khachanov) in 2018. Zverev slumped down the stretch last year and has not yet shifted into high gear this season. The fifth-ranked German, who fell to Joao Sousa in his Indian Wells opener, is 9-4 in 2018 following a hard-fought 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5) victory over Daniil Medvedev on Saturday. Unlike in Rotterdam, Miami conditions may not fast enough for a less-than-confident Zverev to hit Ferrer off the court.

Pick: Ferrer in 3

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(Q) Thanasi Kokkinakis vs. (31) Fernando Verdasco

Kokkinakis’ Miami campaign was already a good one even before Saturday. The 21-year-old Australian qualified for the main draw with straight-set wins over Thiago Monteiro and Taro Daniel before crushing fellow qualifier Calvin Hemery. Kokkinakis took his talents to a whole new level in the second round, stunning world No. 1 and defending champion Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). Finally armed with a clean bill of health after he was almost forced to retire, the former world No. 69 is back up to 175th in the rankings and will crack the top 150 even if he loses on Monday.

Up next for Kokkinakis is a first-ever showdown against Verdasco, who advanced by beating fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 during second-round action. The 34-year-old is a decent 10-7 this season with a runner-up performance in Rio de Janeiro and a third-round finish in Indian Wells. Verdasco, a two-time Miami quarterfinalist, should be able to take advantage of an opponent who may struggle to build on such a monumental result.

Pick: Verdasco in 3

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