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 Four. With a combination of youth and experience on display, the final first round matches promise to deliver intriguing matches, with experienced players such as Kevin Anderson and Marin Cilic looking to kick start their 2021 seasons, as well as players new to tour level such as Jack Draper, who received a wild card into the main draw. 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 Jordan Thompson vs Federico Delbonis.
ATP Miami Open Day 2 Predictions
Jack Draper vs Mikhail Kukushkin
This is a match between youth and experience. Experienced campaigner Mikhail Kukushkin has endured an incredibly difficult start to the 2021 season, winning only one match so far this season. The Kazakh has not enjoyed success at the Miami Open in the past, failing to make it past the first round in the past two seasons at the event. However, in Jack Draper, Kukushkin faces a player who has never played in the main draw of an ATP event before. Draper enjoyed a successful junior career, making the boys singles final at Wimbledon in 2018, as well as winning three Futures tour titles in the same year. However, I think Kukuskin’s experience at this level gives him the huge advantage, and I expect a routine straight sets win for the Kazakh.
Prediction: Kukushkin in 2
Kevin Anderson vs Thiago Monteiro
South African Kevin Anderson is playing his first match since the Australian Open, where he lost in the first round to Matteo Berretini. Since his return to the tour at the Western & Southern Open last year, Anderson has recorded impressive wins, such as his victory over Medvedev in Vienna and Lajovic at Roland Garros, showing signs of his best form before being forced to take a break from the tour due to injury. Thiago Monteiro has has a solid start to the 2021 season, reaching the semifinals at Adelaide and the quarterfinals of the Cordoba Open. However, I expect Anderson’s huge serve to give him the advantage in this match, and I think the South African’s firepower will prove to be too much for Monteiro.
Prediction: Anderson in 2
Sebastian Korda vs Radu Albot
Young American Sebastian Korda has built on the promise he showed at Roland Garros last year where he reached the fourth round. Korda’s 2021 season started with a run to his first ATP final at Delray Beach, before he won the Challenger in Quimper and last week he comfortably defeated Marin Cilic in straight sets in Acapulco before losing to Felix Auger Aliassime in the last 16. Radu Albot has played well in Miami before, taking Federer to a deciding set in 2019 and has made a bright start to 2021 reaching the third round at the Australian Open, defeating Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round, as well as reaching the semifinals at the Singapore Open. I think this will be an interesting match, with Korda getting the win in three sets.
Prediction: Korda in 3
Marin Cilic vs Federico Coria
Marin Cilic is another player who has had a difficult start to the 2021 season. The Croat has one managed two victories this season that both came at the Singapore Open on a run to the quarterfinals. Not winning a match in the Australian summer and having suffered a straight sets defeat at the hands of Sebastian Korda last week, Cilic comes to Miami not in the best of form. Federico Coria has enjoyed success this season, however he has predominately played on clay, achieving his best result at the Chile Open where he reached the semifinals. Cilic has enjoyed success on hard courts throughout his career and I expect the Croat to get the win in three sets.
Prediction: Cilic in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
