Fellow Aussies and doubles partners Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis will be back in action at the Miami Masters on Friday. They have respective second-round contests on their hands against Andrey Rublev and Diego Schwartzman.
(5) Andrey Rublev vs. (WC) Nick Kyrgios
Rublev and Kyrgios will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they collide in round two of the Miami Open on Friday. They have split their two previous encounters; Kyrgios prevailed 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on the indoor hard courts of Moscow in 2018 before Rublev got the job done 7-6(5), 7-6(5), 6-3 at the 2019 U.S. Open.
If Kyrgios continues to be motivated, this should be the best matchup of the entire first round. The 26-year-old Aussie is coming off a quarterfinal performance in Indian Wells (lost to Rafael Nadal in three sets) and he took care of Adrian Mannarino 7-6(3), 6-3 on Wednesday night. One problem for Kyrgios is a potential knee issue and an even bigger problem is Rublev. The world No. 7 has once again been one of the best players on tour this season, with an 18-3 record that includes back-to-back titles in Marseille and Dubai. Kyrgios can win this if he serves extremely well, but it’s tough to pick against Rublev right now.
Pick: Rublev in 3
(13) Diego Schwartzman vs. (Q) Thanasi Kokkinakis
Kokkinakis is finally armed with a clean bill of health and as a result he is in resurgent form this season. The 25-year-old Aussie is back in the top 100 (97th) thanks in part to a semifinal showing and a title at back-to-back ATP 250s in Adelaide. His summer Down Under also included a Grand Slam triumph with Kyrgios in doubles at the Australian Open. Kokkinakis successfully qualified in Indian Wells, did the same in Miami, and defeated Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2 in round one.
Up next is a first-ever meeting with Schwartzman, who has won nine matches on clay this year but otherwise doesn’t have much confidence. Since the season-opening ATP Cup, the 15th-ranked Argentine’s best wins have come against Lorenzo Sonego and Filip Krajinovic–hardly spectacular results. In relatively fast and high-bouncing conditions on the Miami hard courts, this is a great opportunity for Kokkinakis to pull off an upset and keep the momentum going.
Pick: Kokkinakis in 3
WWW?
Rublev in 3 and Schwartzman in 3.
Kyrgios in 3, Schwartzman in 3.
Kyrios served great yesterday in doubs, but Rublev just too tough…in 2; and Koki in 2.
Kyrgios thinks Rublev has weaknesses and would’ve mulled over them with Kokkinakis. Plus they are both playing same day and will be motivated by that.
Not a match you would want to bet your house on. Market and bookmakers are giving Kyrgios plenty of respect in this one.