Day four at the ATP Miami Open sees 16 matches scheduled. With a mix of top seeds and young hopefuls, Day 4 promises to be an action packed affair. We at LWOT preview and predict all 16 matches across four articles including Damir Dzumhur vs Stefanos Tsitsipas, Lorenzo Musetti vs Benoit Paire and Denis Shapovalov vs Ilya Ivashka.
ATP Miami Open Day Four Predictions
Hubert Hurkacz vs Denis Kudla
Head-to-head: first meeting
Denis Kudla played a decent tournament in Acapulco coming through qualifying. The American hasn’t really got going in the main draw of tournaments though competing mainly in challenger events. Miami this year gives him a good chance to change that and as he’s shown in his first round, he’s capable of doing that. Kudla won a tight contest against Jeremy Chardy in three sets and that should give him some confidence.
His opponent, Hubert Hurkacz has already won a title this year but that was two months ago and since then hasn’t quite lived up to the standards he’s set. The Pole is a solid baseline hitter and can dazzle people with his net play at times too. Expect Kudla to come out fighting and stretch Hurkacz but the Pole should eventually find a way through.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
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Milos Raonic vs Jordan Thompson
Head-to-head: first meeting
Milos Raonic is certainly in with a chance here in Miami. His big serving and first strike tennis makes him one of the outside contenders for the title here. The Canadian played a solid Australian Open and despite the early loss in Acapulco, Raonic will be hard to stop here.
Jordan Thompson started the year well in Adelaide but hasn’t won a match since. The Australian’s form coupled with how uncomfortable Raonic makes his opponents feel is something that doesn’t bode well for Thompson. Expect Raonic to put up a strong performance here.
Prediction: Raonic in 2
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Miomir Kecmanovic vs Adrian Mannarino
Head-to-head: Mannarino 2-0 Kecmanovic
Miomir Kecmanovic will definitely be wary of his second round opponent here. He’s lost twice to Adrian Mannarino and hasn’t even won a set against the Frenchman. Mannarino is a smart player and his flat angular strokes aren’t easy to cope with.
That being said, Mannarino isn’t in any kind of form and he had to retire in Acapulco in his first round. The Frenchman’s health is in doubt but if he’s fully fit he’ll feel he’s in with a chance of progressing ahead. Kecmanovic has been unable to build momentum this season and an out of form Mannarino might be an opportunity to address that. Expect an enthralling clash with the Serb just coming through.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 3
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Andrey Rublev vs Tennys Sandgren
Head-to-head: Rublev 1-0 Sandgren
This can get very ugly for Tennys Sandgren. The American has had a woeful 2021 so far and now he runs into Andrey Rublev who’s already won 16 matches this year. The Russian is a relentless machine from the baseline and while he hasn’t quite cracked the code at the Masters 1000 and Grand Slams, Rublev is still one of the favourites here.
Sandgren enjoyed a short match in his first round as his opponent had to retire early. The American needs to be at his aggressive best if he’s to have any chance of beating Rublev but considering how 2021 has gone for Sandgren, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to get past Rublev.
Prediction: Rublev in 2
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