It will be the defending champion vs. the hottest player on tour when Hubert Hurkacz and Carlos Alcaraz collide in the Miami semifinals on Friday. Casper Ruud and Francisco Cerundolo are also aiming for a place in the title match.
(8) Hubert Hurkacz vs. (14) Carlos Alcaraz
A 35-year-old Spaniard was the talk of the ATP Tour for the first two months of the season, as Rafael Nadal won 20 matches in a row to begin 2022–including a second Australian Open title. An 18-year-old Spaniard has been the talk of the tour for the Sunshine Double. Following a semifinal performance in Indian Wells, Alcaraz is through to the same stage of the Miami Open after outlasting Miomir Kecmanovic 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(5) in an incredible contest on Thursday night. The red-hot world No. 16 preceded that result with straight-set victories over Marton Fucsovics, Marin Cilic, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Up next for Alcaraz in Friday’s semifinals is a first-ever meeting with Hurkacz. It should be another fun one given the youngster’s current form and Hurkacz’s propensity for Miami success. The Pole is the defending champion of this event and he also currently finds himself in the doubles final alongside John Isner. Hurkacz’s title defense has featured defeats of Arthur Rinderknech, Aslan Karatsev, Lloyd Harris, and Daniil Medvedev while dropping just one set to Karatsev along the way. The world No. 10 likes to bully his opponents with power and Karatsev was the only one of that group against whom he could not do it consistently; he definitely won’t be able to do it against Alcaraz. Although this will be a quick turnaround for the 14th seed following Thursday’s battle with Kecmanovic, momentum is likely more important than rest when you are 18 years old. Alcaraz should be ready to get right back out there and ride the wave into his first Masters 1000 final.
Pick: Alcaraz in 3
Francisco Cerundolo vs. (6) Casper Ruud
It will be a semifinal matchup that no one could have expected when Ruud and Cerundolo square off for the first time in their careers. Ruud’s appearance isn’t too surprising given his awesome form dating back to last season and the slowness of the Miami conditions, but Cerundolo’s run has come completely out of nowhere. In fact, the 23-year-old Argentine had never won a single hard-court match on the main tour prior to arriving in Miami–not a single one! He has now won five, although two came courtesy of retirements from Reilly Opelka (second round) and Jannik Sinner (quarterfinals). Cerundolo has also defeated Tallon Griekspoor, Gael Monfils, and Frances Tiafoe.
Although Ruud is by no means the toughest possible semifinal draw, this is not going to be easy for the world No. 103. Ruud earned a spot in the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals (even advancing to the semis) and he is showing no signs of slowing down this year. The eighth-ranked Norwegian captured a title in Buenos Aires and he is two victories away from another–and a much bigger one–after beating Henri Laaksonen, Alexander Bublik, Cameron Norrie, and Alexander Zverev. Ruud also has far more experience on this kind of stage, so look for him to end Cerundolo’s run without too much trouble.
Pick: Ruud in 2
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You’re write up on Alcaraz was interesting , saying that Nadal was the talk of the first 3 months and Alcaraz was the talk of the Sunshine Double having reached the semis of Indian Wells etc -did they stop talking about Nadal when he beat Alcaraz in that semi or played the final hurt so as not to deprive Fritz of winning a live final at his home ATP 1000 ?