We are up to the semifinal round of the ATP Miami Open. We are guaranteed to see a maiden Masters 1000 champion. This isn’t much of a surprise, of course, given the major names who withdrew. Still, this is a tremendous opportunity for all four remaining men, including two of the rising youngsters on tour. Who will advance to Sunday’s final? We offer our thoughts on both matches.
ATP Miami Open Semifinal Predictions
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Jannik Sinner
I’m torn on this one. Sinner is clearly a future Grand Slam champion and potential star. The young Italian has unlimited potential, and he is playing consistently better tennis. Bautista Agut, on the other hand, is older, more established, and just more solid. I don’t think he can stick with Sinner from the baseline if the Italian plays well, but I do think he can keep Sinner uncomfortable enough to force mistakes. In the end, though, I think the higher level of tennis wins out, even if it’s a bit less consistent.
Prediction: Sinner in 3
Hubert Hurkacz vs Andrey Rublev
Rublev is an absolute force right now. He is one of the best young players on tour and he is consistently beating all challengers, other than the game’s elites. Aside from a loss to the rising Aslan Karatsev last month, just about everyone to beat Rublev since the return from the COVID hiatus is a recent Top 10 player.
The one exception to that, though, is Hubert Hurkacz, who beat Rublev in three sets in Rome last fall. The Pole is also rapidly rising, though he is not yet on par with his Russian counterpart. These two youngsters should be staples of the game moving forward, and they should treat us to a battle worthy of a Masters semifinal. Ultimately, though, I have to side with Rublev. He’s just on a higher level right now.
Prediction: Rublev in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
