Second-round action at the Miami Masters continues on Saturday, when a few of the tours brightest rising stars take the court. Jack Draper is going up against Jakub Mensik, while Joao Fonseca faces Ugo Humbert.
Jakub Mensik vs. (6) Jack Draper
Draper is coming off the biggest moment of his career, a Masters 1000 triumph in Indian Wells–where he upset Carlos Alcaraz in the semis before crushing Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in the final. It did not come out of nowhere, either. The 23-year-old Brit was already 7-2 this season and up to No. 14 in the rankings heading into Indian Wells; now those numbers are 13-2 and No. 7, respectively.
Up first for Draper at the Miami Open on Saturday is a second showdown against Mensik. Their only previous meeting came at the 2023 Mouilleron le Captif Challenger, where the left-hander cruised 6-4, 6-2. Fast forward two seasons and Mensik, 19, has soared to 54th in the rankings. The Czech has already won nine main-tour matches in 2024 after beating Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on Thursday. It may only be a matter of months not years before Mensik is ready to compete with the best players in the world, but for now a Masters 1000 champion is likely too tough of a test for the teenager.
Pick: Draper in 2
Joao Fonseca vs. (19) Ugo Humbert
There is only one teenager on tour who is more highly touted than Mensik, and it’s Fonseca. The 18-year-old Brazilian has been a known commodity for a while, but he really announced himself with a NextGen ATP Finals title in December and an Australian Open upset of Andrey Rublev in January. Fonseca has since lifted his first ATP trophy in Buenos Aires, won the Phoenix Challenger, and beat budding rival Learner Tien 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-4 in the Miami first round on Thursday night.
Humbert stands in the world No. 60’s way of making a real run at the second leg of the Sunshine Double. This is a tough matchup for Fonseca, as the 20th-ranked Frenchman is 11-4 this season and stylistically should be in good shape for Saturday’s contest. Humbert’s favorite patterns with his lefty game are big serves and forehands out wide and backhands down the line–all of which are directed into the ad side toward Fonseca’s backhand. The Brazilian’s backhand is by no means bad, but the forehand is his weapon. With Fonseca coming off a grueling three-setter that had him on the ropes physically, Humbert possesses enough veteran guile to exploit any weaknesses in what his opponent brings to the table.
Pick: Humbert in 3
WWW?
Just saw Draper 2X out in IW….WOW!!!!….in 2…and Humbert in 3 (but that Fonz-Tien match last night sure was fun to eatch!)
Munar Medvedev should be a good one. Munar is in career best form. I always thought his ability > results.
Medvedev out
Some of them just needed Nadal to retire to start producing their ability.
Cerundolo v Muller should be a good one also.
thought so too, but it wasn’t
There was a bit of self-respect in Mensik’s win, also
Great effort.