We’re ready to wrap up the second round of Miami after a rain-shortened week. Saturday will see some of the best men in the game. Who will win the biggest matches?
Alexander Zverev vs David Ferrer
H2H: Zverev leads 4-2
David Ferrer looked great in his first round win over a less than impressive Sam Querrey. The draw didn’t do him any favors with a second-round matchup against last year’s finalist Alexander Zverev. The two met recently on the hard courts in Acapulco where Zverev won in straight sets. Ferrer is playing good enough to keep it close, but I don’t think it’ll be enough against Zverev who’s looking to get back to the finals for a second straight year.
Prediction: Zverev in 2
Marin Cilic vs Andrey Rublev
H2H: Cilic leads 1-0
Andrey Rublev is quietly having a good season after falling out of the top 100 not too long ago. Rublev qualified in Miami and defeated Taro Daniel in the opening round. He faces a player in Cilic who isn’t playing that well right now. Rublev is due for a run at a big event, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s able to pull off the upset over Cilic.
Prediction: Rublev in 3
Grigor Dimitrov vs Feliciano Lopez
H2H: Dimitrov leads 3-2
Dimitrov will be playing his first match since the Australian Open after missing the last few tournaments with a shoulder injury. This is an excellent opportunity for the veteran Feliciano Lopez to reach the third round at a Masters 1000 event. Even though Dimitrov is short on match play, he was one of the first players on site in Miami breaking in the new courts at Hard Rock Stadium. I expect Dimitrov to take advantage of the favorable draw and advance to the third round.
Prediction: Dimitrov in 2
Roger Federer vs Radu Albot
H2H: First meeting
This second round match has the potential to be tricky for Federer. Radu Albot is playing the best tennis of his career, after winning the title in Delray Beach a couple of weeks ago. He’s now at a career high of #46 after his win over Matthew Ebden in the first round of the Miami Open. Federer has to be itching to get back on the court after the tough loss in the finals of the BNP Paribas Open. I don’t think this one is going to straightforward, but Federer should be able to get through.
Prediction: Federer in 3
