Miami R1 previews and predictions: Smyczek vs. Paul, Seppi vs. Young

A pair of rematches from the recent BNP Paribas Open will be a part of Thursday’s schedule in Miami. Fellow Americans Tim Smyczek and Tommy Paul faced each other in Indian Wells qualifying, while Andreas Seppi and Donald Young are set for a second straight first-round showdown.

(Q) Tommy Paul vs. (Q) Tim Smyczek

Smyczek and Paul will be going head-to-head for the second time in as many tournaments when they clash in round one of the Miami Open on Thursday. And this time it’s in the main draw. The two Americans just met during final-round qualifying action in Indian Wells, where Smyczek held on for a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory after throwing away a double-break lead in the third set. The world No. 132 has won each of their previous encounters, having also prevailed 6-4, 6-4 at last year’s Knoxville Challenger.

A tough opening-round draw in the desert ended things for Smyczek, who flamed out against Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4, 6-0. The Delray Beach quarterfinalist then lost to Jared Donaldson 7-5, 6-4 in his Irving Challenger opener. Paul is still looking for the first ATP-level match victory of his career (he is 0-3 in the main draws of ATP events). The 18-year-old followed up his Indian Wells setback against Smyczek by falling to Philip Bester 6-3, 6-4 right away at the Drummondville Challenger. There is nothing to suggest Paul will turn the tide against his more experience compatriot, who is simply a step ahead at this point in their careers.

Pick: Smyczek in 3

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Andreas Seppi vs. Donald Young

Seppi and Young will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers on Thursday–their second meeting in less than two weeks. They just faced each other in Indian Wells, also in the first round, with Seppi getting the job done 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. The 32-year-old Italian now leads the head-to-head series 3-1, having also prevailed twice on grass (Eastbourne in 2011 and at the 2012 London Olympics). Young’s lone victory came via a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 decision at the 2014 Australian Open.

Seppi’s luck in the desert quickly ran out at the hands of another American, John Isner, who took care of the underdog 7-6(1), 6-4. Thus the world No. 43 is still saddled with a losing record on the season at 6-7. Young is also in mediocre-at-best form, struggling down at 80th in the rankings with a 4-6 ATP-level record for his 2016 campaign. He has lost three matches in a row dating back to the second round of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel. If there is some good news for Young, it’s that he has reached the last 64 in Miami each of the last two years.

Pick: Young in 3

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