Something will have to give in a surprising but intriguing Miami Open final, because both Alexander Zverev and John Isner are absolutely on fire heading into Sunday’s showdown.
Their reward for such scorching-hot form is a fourth career head-to-head contest and participation in the closing match at Crandon Park before the Masters 1000 tournament moves away from Key Biscayne next year. Zverev is sweeping the series 3-0, including 2-0 on hard courts. The German prevailed 6-4, 6-2 at the 2016 Shanghai Masters, 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 7-6(5) during third-round action last season in Miami, and 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 shortly thereafter in Rome.
There seemed to be little chance that these two Saddlebrook training mates and one-time doubles partners (2016 Toronto Masters) would meet again in Miami when they landed on opposite sides of the draw. After all, nothing suggested Isner–especially–would make a run to the championship match. The 6’10” American had been a mere 2-6 in 2018 prior to this fortnight, but he has suddenly reeled off victories over Jiri Vesely, Mikhail Youzhny, Marin Cilic, Hyeon Chung, and Indian Wells champion Juan Martin Del Potro. Isner has won nine consecutive sets and put on an especially stunning display while beating an understandably tired Del Potro 6-1, 7-6(2) on Friday.
“Things are just clicking,” the world No. 17 assured. “If I’m returning well and getting in return games, that should bode well for me given how I serve. (I’m) very happy it’s all sort of coming together right now…. I just know with my game, if I’m doing the right things, it doesn’t really matter who I’m playing; I’m going to be very tough to beat.”
Nobody has come close to beating Zverev since he was pushed to three sets by Daniil Medvedev and David Ferrer much earlier in the event. Miami’s No. 4 seed promptly raised his level to defeat Nick Kyrgios, Borna Coric, and Pablo Carreno Busta, and his last eight sets have resulted in scorelines of 6-2, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2.
Zverev, who is now 13-4 for his 2018 campaign, is one win away from a third career Masters 1000 title–having triumphed last season in Rome and Montreal. He is also 6-3 lifetime in ATP finals, including a 5-1 record in 2017. Isner, on the other hand, is 0-3 in Masters 1000 finals and 0-7 in finals above the 250-point level (12-5 in 250-point finals). Granted, his Masters 1000 final losses have come at the hands of Roger Federer (2012 in Indian Wells), Rafael Nadal (2013 in Cincinnati), and Andy Murray (2016 in Paris). It may get a little bit easier–but not by much–against Zverev.
“Sascha, I mean, he’s the best young player this game has,” Isner praised.
In what is likely to be a competitive, high-quality encounter, Zverev’s confidence from his past Masters 1000 success and his 3-0 record against Isner may be the difference.
Pick: Zverev in 3
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WYG?
https://tenngrand.com/daily-picks-2018-1/comment-page-186/#comment-297822
Zverev for third masters title.
he is ahead of Wawrinka in terms of masters who is Big 5.
Great achievement by youngster.
If Isner plays like he did yesterday, he will win. However, if his level has dropped he will lose. Tough to call but I’m picking Isner to win his first masters 1000 title
Such a tough call. I’m going with Zverev in 3. But I’m like 51% confident on that 😂
Although Zverev has been the picture of inconsistency for the last 7 months or so, he has shown to be a player who generally shows up for he biggest Finals. I know he’s only had 2, but in both Masters finals he’s been in within the last year, he had to face a Big 4 guy in both of them. And he won both in straight sets. I understand that neither Novak nor Federer were at full health for those finals, but since when has anyone, let alone young guy, been able to beat Big 4 guys in Masters finals even when they weren’t healthy? Most guys still shrink in the moment and lose against not-fully-fit Big 4 in those big finals. Not Zverev.
So while I still just don’t have the confidence to bet on Zverev because he is so up and down, there is no denying that he shows up for the biggest matches pretty consistently… The only one I can think of where he got absolutely destroyed was in the Halle final last year against Fed. But then again, he was facing 2017 Roger Federer in a final on grass, so the odds were pretty stacked against him there. But Zverev has beaten Fed, Novak, and Stan in finals before, so there is no question that he SHOULD blow Isner off the court.
However, like people mentioned above, of the Isner we saw against Del Po shows up tomorrow, then Zverev could be in trouble!
As much as I don’t trust Zverev, he does have a pretty good track record in finals, especially Masters ones. So therefore I’m going to go with Zverev in 3. I’m guessing that Isner will come out firing and catch Zverev a little flat in the beginning to take the first set. Then I see Zverev taking the second and third. But really, this one could go any way!
Tough call Kevin. It’s exactly the first part of your post that ironically gives me doubt about Zverev in the final.
He’s a bit like Kyrgios in that he tends to play his best tennis against the best going in as underdog but puts more pressure on himself playing more passively as the underdog.
This will be a close three setter in my opinion and with his back to the wall, I’m hoping and picking that Sascha plays with Britt will put a stake thru the vampyre.
Make tennis great again.
#FDT
correction: … passively as the favourite.
Yeah, I’m with you about this, for sure, Hawkie.
You are right, Hawks- I actually didn’t really consider the fact that Zverev is actually NOT the underdog in a Masters final, so it could be different!
Del Potro 🙁 Well, Zv has won 2 more Masters Finals than Isner. Btw, amazing that the USA has 2 Americans (Sloane for the women) in the finals of a big tournament! The men’s final is too tough to call. If Isner has a great serving day he can take anyone out, and he’s had a fairly easy run to the final. He should be pumped and will have the crowd so I’m going with him in 3.
Will I watch the match? Nah. I’ll record it and watch the TB’s.
Don’t get me wrong (I like Isner) but he’s too one-dimensional for my liking. However he has added more variety this year and will be a tough opponent for Zeverev. Zev will need to keep his cool and not allow himself to be distracted by bad line calls. There have been far too many of those in this tournament. It will behove Zev not to let there be more than one tiebreak!
Zeverev in three
Isner in 2. The way he is playing atm, he is very close to unbeatable, but can’t see Zverev do anything here, he is in good form yes, but Isner knows what needs to be done, and the experience and hunger for the first title will make Isner focused on every ball. Isner won’t get broken, and just 1 break and he got a set, and if it goes to a tiebreak he is also on “homefield” in those terms, and shortly said – Isner will win the title in Miami tomorrow.
If Isner can serve as he has been the last few matches, he will win, because the serve is pretty much unbreakable. Can he do it? The serve depends less on the opponent than any other shot, and is, correspondingly, more a matter of mental strength and confidence than any other shot. Isner’s confidence is sky-high at the moment, and the crowd will be solidly behind him.
Zverev is incredibly composed for someone his age and plays up to the moment. He is the more consistent and overall better player. But I think he may get overpowered tomorrow by a giant who is simply in the zone (I read that he hit one FH yesterday at 117 mph). Isner will get one break and win the other in a TB. Isner in 2.
Very possible
The pressure of winning his first Masters title will most likely get to Isner and he wont serve as well and unlike his previous opponents, Zverez’s is peaking in terms of form and fitness after a poor start to the hardcourt season.
Zverez in 3
Big Dawg in 2…he’s really in a zone right now…should be a great match! (and hooray for The Bryan Brothers!!)
Yep, if Isner continues his form, he wins. del Potro never looked a chance and im not sure Zverez at the other end makes much difference.
People keep saying it’s amazing to have two Americans in the finals but no one even bother to mention Bryan Bryan usa double teams. That’s 4 Americans in finals not 2.
Make that five. Vandeweghe is in the women’s doubles final too
Isner will win this one if he keeps this up. He’s already returning extremely well, almost breaking Zverev in the first game.
Actually at this point both have had severa chances in each other’s service games. This is gonna be a nail biter
Several*
Zverez is a special kid.
Zverez will be winning a grand slam in the next 12 months.
Go Sascha!!
The problem for Isner now, deep in the 3rd set, is he’ll start to get tired on serve. Zverez is no doubt the fav at this stage of the match.
Even though Isner has managed to increase his 1st serve % to 67% from low 60s at the end of the 1st set.
Isner’s service game has improved significantly after the first set, 1st and 2nd serve points won
Code violation Zverez lol
Zverez really wanted this masters after a poor start to the year, he probably wont see anothe opportunity the US hardcourt season later in the year. Poor kid.
AZ is hardly poor. And if he keeps playing well there’s no reason he shouldn’t have some shots during the NA hardcourt swings. Slams? I dunno, maybe not yet, but he’ll probably start doing better at those. Still, if Murray, Roger and Rafa come back strong and Djokovic breaks out of his slump, who knows? But the Big Four have to go down sometime, more’s the pity.
Wow. Props to Isner. Despite not having to face any Big 4, he did have to beat two major champions, as well as a two-time Masters champ to get this title. Impressive for him.
So happy for Big John right now. One of the nicest people on tour, just a really good guy.
YES!! So happy for him. Wins his first masters title at THIRTY TWO YEARS OLD!! And he fully deserved it. Hit some of the best groundstrokes I’ve ever seen from him down the stretch. A couple HUGE forehands in that 4-4 game. Well deserved Big John. I feel a big clay season coming for him.
When you think about it, Isner deserved a Masters after all those big matches he played against the top players. Took Nadal to 5 sets at RG from memory, beat Fed/Djokovic etc in some big matches and Davis Cup etc.
Great win for Isner. After blowing those three break points at 2-2 in the 3rd it would have been easy to fold and let Zverev take it, especially because John was really feeling the heat by that point. But he composed himself, held serve, and waited for his next chance. A long time coming and very well deserved.
A tough loss for Alex, but he’ll collect a lot more of these titles in the future.
Congrats to the Big Dawg! Well deserved. He played great all week and he had a very tough start to the year.
Beyond happy for Isner! It was a pleasure to see him react so ecstatically after the win!