Fast-rising Americans Jenson Brooksby and Sebastian Korda will be aiming for spots in the Miami fourth round on Monday. But it won’t be easy, because they have respective meetings with Roberto Bautista Agut and Miomir Kecmanovic.
Jenson Brooksby vs. (15) Roberto Bautista Agut
Monday will be the first meeting between Roberto Bautista Agut and promising young Jenson Brooksby. Bautista Agut, the No. 15 seed, has quietly made his way to the third round. He got a bye and then dispatched Kamil Majchrzak in routine straight sets.
By contrast, Brooksby’s path to the third round was anything but quiet. He endured a tricky opening match against Federico Coria that frustrated him enough that he threw his racket across the court in anger and grazed one a ballperson. Brooksby shellacked Nikoloz Basilashvili in the second round to earn his spot against Bautista Agut.
As well as Brooksby has been playing during the Sunshine Double, Bautista Agut isn’t the sort to be drawn in or frustrated by the American’s shenanigans. Brooksby, who is ranked a career-high 39th in the world, has an entertaining and unusual game. He doesn’t play the hard-hitting baseline tennis of most of his contemporaries; instead, he often confounds his opponents with off-pace shots. But I don’t expect it to work against RBA for two full sets.
Cheryl pick: Bautista Agut in 3
Ricky pick: Bautista Agut in 3
Sebastian Korda vs. Miomir Kecmanovic
If there is one thing Sebastian Korda knows how to do, it’s win tennis matches in his home state of Florida. Despite bad luck in Australia (he tested positive for COVID right before the Australian Open), and some difficulty serving out matches, the American has been in good form this year–and this week. He destroyed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round and scraped his way out of a hole in the second set to beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic had one of the best runs of his career last week in Indian Wells. The world No. 48 upset Marin Cilic and Matteo Berrettini en route to the quarterfinals. But perhaps his biggest win of the season came in just the last round, where he demolished an in-form Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-2.
This has the potential to be a fantastic match. Korda will be playing at home at one of his best events, and Kecmanovic is–quite simply–playing out of his mind right now. Kecmanovic’s form may not last, but he will certainly carry confidence with him following his upset in round two. This one should go the distance with Korda just edging it out.
Cheryl pick: Korda in 3
Ricky pick: Kecmanovic in 3
Yes to both of Cheryl’s picks
I also think Korda in 3.
btw, I noticed someone else is posting under the name ‘Guest’…
That’s a tough match and a bit of lottery given the variability of Korda’s results.
He will probably see Kecmanovic as a bit of a scalp and will be motivated by that plus he will want to equal Fritz’s performance, so there’s a bit of psychology involved in that one.
If Kecmanovic can see that coming he can counter it, otherwise Korda might catch him by surprise.
How did RBA lose that one.The commentators were already talking about the fact that he beat Meddy last year and would be an awkward matchup.But Jenson won , and its maybe even more awkward for Daniill..