A quartet of up-and-coming stars will headline Thursday’s slate of action at the Miami Masters. Stefanos Tsitsipas is facing Daniil Medvedev, while Yoshihito Nishioka returns to the scene of his ACL injury to battle Alex De Minaur.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Daniil Medvedev
Tsitsipas and Medvedev will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they clash in round one of the Miami Open on Thursday. Although Medvedev is considerably more accomplished at the ATP level, Tsitsipas looks poised to make the same kind of breakthrough this season that Medvedev enjoyed in 2016 and 2017. The 19-year-old Greek has earned five of his nine career ATP-level match victories in the first three months of 2018, with quarterfinal performances in Doha and Dubai plus a recent second-round appearance in Indian Wells (lost to Dominic Thiem in three sets).
Medvedev qualified for the inaugural NextGen ATP Finals last year (Tsitsipas missed it by just one spot), advancing to the semifinals before falling in five abbreviated sets to eventual champion Hyeon Chung. The 22-year-old Russian has maintained momentum from his stellar season with a 10-4 ATP-level record so far in 2018. He captured his first career title in Sydney, reached the Rotterdam quarterfinals as a qualifier, and is coming off a third-round showing in Indian Wells. But Medvedev has more of a high-risk, high-reward style of game, whereas Tsitsipas’ greater margin of error on his shots may work better in the sure-to-be windy conditions of Miami.
Pick: Tsitsipas in 3
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(Q) Alex De Minaur vs. Yoshihito Nishioka
De Minaur was the talk of the tour during the first two weeks of the season, making a run to the Brisbane semifinals and finishing runner-up to Medvedev in Sydney. The 19-year-old Australian has cooled off since, but he at least managed to advance one round in Indian Wells (beat Jan-Lennard Struff in a third-set tiebreaker, lost to eventual champion Juan Martin Del Potro) and won two matches at the Irving Challenger before succumbing to Steve Johnson.
Up first for De Minaur on Thursday is Nishioka, whom he has never faced. The 22-year-old from Japan was poised to produce the best season of his career in 2018–having made noise in both Acapulco (quarterfinals) and Indian Wells (fourth round) as a qualifier–before it all came crashing down in Miami. Nishioka suffered a torn ACL during second-round action against Jack Sock and did not play again until January. Understandably, the former world No. 58’s comeback is off to a slow start (1-3 record at the ATP level). A much more confident De Minaur should be able to continue his rise at the expense of a rusty opponent.
Pick: De Minaur in 2
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who ya got?
I think Daniil MADvedev will win.
MADvedev is not only the higher ranked but is also the more skilled and experienced player.
He has the better current form in 2018. MADs has a W/L of 11/3 vs 7/5 with a win rate of 64.89 % vs 62.32 %(mostly at the Challenger level) for SIT,SIT,SIT,SEE,.I..PASS!lol
SIT,SIT,SIT,SEE,.I..PASS(No, I am not SITting)!lol has won only 4 out of his last 10 matches whereas MADs has won 6 out of last 10. Now you know who is in better form?lol
MADs is reaching further in most competitions than SIT,SIT,SIT,SEE,.I..PASS(No, I am not SITting) showing he is the better player!lol
Over is possible here as SIT,SIT,SIT,SEE,.I..PASS (No, I am not SITting)!lol who has a big serve will hold sufficient service games and push the over. 3 sets can happen. But like MADs to win ML due to his above advantages.
All postings meant for further analysis and discussions.
The match between Alex De Minaur vs. Yoshihito Nishioka will be a great chess match between a Grand Master back from retirement (Nishioka) vs a talented upstart struggling to show that he can be successful outside of kangaroo land without the Aussie crowd pushing & willing him to win, when he is down!
I expect OVER to win here as as even very experienced players can’t beat Nishioka in sets 75% or more times.
Nishioka has gone to 3 sets in 7 of his last 9 matches and the same can happen today. But just like the over to win today.
Nishioka has close to weeks of rest after playing in Indian Wells. A rested Nishioka is dangerous if he finds his top form then expect him to teach Alex De Minaur (ADM) a lesson or 2 in tennis. Then (read above) can upset ADM!
But this will be a close match (2 tight sets or 3 sets) (if Nishioka is not rusted and injured…unlike Baghdatis who was and played badly today.) as ADM is young, talented, hungry and has already adjusted to the Miami Open court conditions with 2 wins in the qualies.
Will Nishioka be inspired by the success of his Japanese country woman Naomi Osaka and find a way to win today? Sit back and watch for a great Chessy tennis match!lol
All this players are good players but I think D. Medvedev might win, Stefanos Tsitsipas has really improved his game this season so I won’t be surprised if this match goes over games or if he wins but I think Daniil Medvedev will win if he stays focused and brings his game because in my opinion he is the better player.
Many better players lost yesterday so don’t be surprised if that trend continues, I still think D. Medvedev will win.
This match will be good match to watch, I hope you enjoy it.
I’d agree that Medvedev’s flat hitting game isn’t well suited to the damp breezy conditions,so different from indoors.But he has a decent record in Florida ,and is the better player so him in three.
De Minaur in three
Correction:Medvedev hasn’t a good record in Florida that I can find!
De Minaur and Tsitsipas in three
I am no longer confident in D. Medvedev but he is the better player.