Top 10 seeds Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, and Jannik Sinner are joined in the Miami quarterfinals on Wednesday by Francisco Cerundolo. It’s Zverev vs. Ruud and Sinner vs. Cerundolo for spots in the semis.
(6) Casper Ruud vs. (2) Alexander Zverev
Zverev and Ruud will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinal of the Miami Open on Wednesday night. They faced each other twice in 2021–both times on relatively fast hard courts that favor Zverev. Unsurprisingly, the German took care of business with a 6-1, 6-3 rout at the Cincinnati Masters and a 7-5, 6-4 victory at the Paris Masters.
Miami conditions are playing slow, which could give Ruud a chance. The eighth-ranked Norwegian has certainly capitalized so far, with straight-set blowouts of Henri Laaksonen, Alexander Bublik, and Cameron Norrie. Unfortunately for Ruud, Zverev is also looking good. The world No. 4 needed three sets against Borna Coric in his opener but then eased past Mackenzie McDonald and Thanasi Kokkinakis. Zverev has 26 aces and six double-faults through three matches. If he continues that kind of serving, Ruud will once again be hard-pressed to even take one set on this surface.
Pick: Zverev in 2
(9) Jannik Sinner vs. Francisco Cerundolo
Like Zverev (2018), Sinner is a former finalist in Miami (2021). The 11th-ranked Italian has a real opportunity to make it back to that stage, and if he does it will be especially remarkable considering how his fortnight began. Sinner saved a combined eight match points in his first two outings–three against Emil Ruusuvuori and five against Pablo Carreno Busta. The 20-year-old then ran into a red-hot Nick Kyrgios and turned in a great performance while also benefiting from a mental implosion by his opponent, winning 7-6(3), 6-3.
Up next for Sinner on Wednesday is Cerundolo, who has reached the quarters of a hard-court Masters 1000 from completely out of nowhere. The 103rd-ranked Argentine beat Tallon Griekspoor in three, got a retirement from Reilly Opelka, crushed Gael Monfils 6-2, 6-3, and then overcame Frances Tiafoe 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 6-2. Cerundolo had been 0-4 in his last four hard-court matches (qualifying and Challengers included) prior to arriving in Miami. This has been an incredible run for the 23-year-old, but Sinner will likely end it in swift fashion.
Pick: Sinner in 2
WWW?
Where did Cerendolo come from?????…..but I’ll take Sinner in 2; and ZV in 2.
Why? If the results say they will win or can win, why just assume that based in history they will win? And not just win but for it to be a completely one-sided victory.
Yeah, me too, I wanna know, lol!! Never heard of this guy before!!
He did well in South American clay last year but had hardly won a match since.Similarly his brotherJM
Goooo Ruud!
Joining the baffled about Cerundulo, but think Sinner retired injured. Shame.
What’s there to be baffled about dummy? Cerundulo is in great form; you only have to open your eyes and look at his results.
Do you have to be quite so rude and aggressive? I’d never heard of Cerundulo before and Sinner did retire so no, I don’t know how good he is yet.
Sinner just walked over and said “I’m done; I can see you’re seeing it like a beach ball and this is going to be 62 62”.
Gosh this is the second time Sinner has retired in the the past two tournaments. What’s up with his fitness?
Anyway a Med/Alcaraz final would be a doozy!! 😀
Hello everyone 😂
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