There is no time being wasted in between the two components of the annual “Sunshine Double.” The BNP Paribas Open just ended on Sunday and the Miami Open draw ceremony was held on Monday.
There were some wild overall results and individual matches in the desert, and that could continue in South Beach. The entirety of the Big 3 is out (Novak Djokovic is unvaccinated, Rafael Nadal is resting up for clay, and Roger Federer is hurt) and nobody among the top three seeds is in great form (Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas). Therefore don’t be surprised if we see something in Miami similar to what was witnessed in Indian Wells (two players outside the top 20 reached the semifinals and world No. 20 Tayor Fritz captured the title).
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 a 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.
See the full Miami draw on the ATP website
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Meddy
Players in the best form right now are Alcaraz, Rublev, Kyrgios, Norrie, Brooksby and I would say Fritz, but I think he’ll pull out, I do wonder about Norrie’s hip too, I think Alcaraz has what it takes to take his 1st big title.
You actually think Van De Zandschulp is a factor, no way, FAA played a poor match that day, which is why he lost.