Day 2 of the 2021 ATP Miami Open sees the completion of the first round, with many players looking to take advantage of the withdrawal of the Big 4. With a combination of youth and experience on display, the final first round matches promise to deliver intriguing matches. We are covering all 16 matches on the day, with four of them in this article. The other articles feature Lorenzo Musetti vs Michael Mmoh, Bjorn Fratangelo vs Fernando Verdasco and Marin Cilic vs Federico Coria.
2021 Miami Open Day 2 Predictions
Ilya Ivashka vs Soonwoo Kwon
The South Korean has enjoyed success in 2021, winning the second Biella Challenger, defeating talented Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the final, before reaching the quarterfinals at the Singapore Open. Ilya Ivashka has also enjoyed recent success on the ATP Challenger Tour, winning the Ortisei Challenger at the end of last season, a run that included a win over Aslan Karatsev in the semifinals. Both men lost in the opening round of the Australian Open and I am giving the edge to the South Korean based on his recent success at tour level.
Prediction: Kwon in 3
Federico Delbonis vs Jordan Thompson
The Australian made a positive start to the 2021 season, reaching the quarterfinals of Adelaide, however at the Australian Open he was forced to retire from his first round match due to injury against Casper Ruud. The Australian return to the tour last week in Dubai, losing in straight sets to Emil Ruusuvuori, so it’s difficult to tell where the Australian is at physically. Federico Delbonis did not play at the Australian Open has has spent most of his 2021 season playing the South American Clay court events, achieving his best result at the Chile Open where he reached the semifinals. I am expecting a tight three setter with the Argentine to get the win.
Prediction: Delbonis in 3
Liam Broady vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Liam Broady has enjoyed success on the ATP Challenger Tour recently, reaching the final and semifinal of the two Potchefstroom Challenger events as well as reaching the final of the third Biella challenger, before coming through qualifying to reach the main draw in Miami. Kecmanovic has enjoyed a solid enough start to his 2021 season, with his best results being reaching the quarterfinals at Melbourne 2 and the semifinals of the Cordoba Open. I predict the Serb will prove to be too strong for the Brit who has not been able to achieve consistent success at Tour level.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 2
Christopher O’Connell vs Joao Sousa
The highlight of the Australian’s year so far came at the Australian Open, where he recorded a straight sets victory over Jan-Lennard Struff. Howeverm since that victory, despite making it through qualifying for the ATP events in Doha and Qatar, he has not won another main draw match in 2021. Joao Sousa has had a difficult start to the 2021 season, with the experienced Portuguese not playing the Australian Open and he has not won a main draw match this year, losing in the round of 32 at each of the three South American clay court events. I think O’Connell definitely has the edge going into this match, however Sousa is the more experienced player. However, I think the Australian will get the win in three sets.
Prediction: O’Connell in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
