Daniil Medvedev may be the title favorite in Miami, but he is winless in two previous tries against Roberto Bautista Agut heading into Wednesday. First-time Masters 1000 quarterfinalists Jannik Sinner and Alexander Bublik are also taking the court.
(1) Daniil Medvedev vs. (7) Roberto Bautista Agut
Medvedev and Bautista Agut will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they battle for a semifinal spot at the Miami Open on Wednesday. Both of their previous encounters have gone Bautista Agut’s way; 6-3, 6-4 in the 2017 Chennai final and 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the quarters of last year’s Cincinnati Masters.
Will lightning strike a third time for Bautista Agut? To say it won’t be easy would be a gross understatement. Medvedev has been borderline invincible at huge tournaments like slams and Masters of late–at least prior to finals against Big 3 opponents. The second-ranked Russian endured a scare in round three against Alexei Popyrin, but he rolled over Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday. With Medvedev back in fine form and Bautista Agut coming off a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(7) battle against John Isner, the favorite should restore order to this matchup.
Pick: Medvedev in 2
(21) Jannik Sinner vs. (32) Alexander Bublik
Sinner and Bublik will be facing each other for the second time in their careers and for the second time this season on Wednesday. They just met a couple of weeks ago in Dubai, where Sinner staged a 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 comeback. The 19-year-old Italian ended up reaching the Dubai quarterfinals (also beat Bautista Agut before falling to eventual champion Aslan Karatsev in three sets) and he has now advanced to at least the quarters of four tournaments in 2021–including a title at a 250 in Melbourne. So far in Miami Sinner has taken out Hugo Gaston, Karen Khachanov, and Emil Ruusuvuori.
Bublik is also through to a Masters 1000 quarterfinal for the first time in his career. The 44th-ranked Kazakh is two wins away from what would already be his third final of the year following victories over Laslo Djere, James Duckworth, and Taylor Fritz. Given that Bublik is more inconsistent than Sinner both mentally and technically, this should be another win for the world No. 31–and likely in straight sets this time if he gets off to a better start.
Pick: Sinner in 2
med in 3; Sinner in 2.
i saw the match live,i made a bet on augut set 1,though to crack,always minor to no mistakes on the court,and clearly medvedev was frustrated in ²nd set,also i betted on under 9,5 games (set ²) ,showing emotion at tennis is devestating when you play against top tier players,easy money.