The third round of the 2022 ATP Miami Open will be completed on Monday, Day 6 of the event. Stefanos Tsitsipas will take on Alex de Minaur for an incredible eleventh time in their professional careers, which are still relatively short. Meanwhile, Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz is facing a tough all-American matchup against his friend Tommy Paul. We also predict the day’s other matches in a separate article. Who do you think will advance?
ATP Miami Open Day 6 Predictions
Marin Cilic vs Carlos Alcaraz
Head-to-head: Cilic 1-0
It’s incredible how much Carlos Alcaraz has achieved since losing to Marin Cilic in Estoril last year. The Spaniard keeps improving at an incredible pace and has even stopped struggling in potentially tricky matches, instead pretty much bullying his opposition this year. He’s only lost to Matteo Berrettini and Rafael Nadal so far in 2022, and while the Croat could certainly reach that sort of quality when he was in his peak, it’s been a while since we’ve seen a truly vintage performance by Cilic. That’s what he’d need to beat Alcaraz.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 2
Taylor Fritz vs Tommy Paul
Head-to-head: Paul 3-2
Matches between two players who know each other very well can get weird and perhaps an illustration of that is their head-to-head, where Tommy Paul leads despite having a much less successful career than Taylor Fritz so far. The two Americans were born in the same year and even played doubles with each other multiple times, including at Indian Wells this year. Taylor Fritz is just on fire right now and overcame a tough challenge Mikhail Kukushkin in the opening round, showing he’s got no first big title hangover. With his confidence right now, can’t pick against him.
Prediction: Fritz in 3
Sebastian Korda vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head-to-head: First meeting
Miomir Kecmanovic has made so much improvement this year and he finds himself at an incredible 17-6 for the season. The Serbian made the quarterfinals at Indian Wells and followed it up with two wins in Miami already, including a stunning upset over Felix Auger-Aliassime. His forehand has never been this dangerous and it was never about lacking talent with the former junior No. 1, he just couldn’t get it together for some reason. He’s got the full package now and if he keeps up this form, he’s going to be extremely dangerous.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 3
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Alex de Minaur
Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 9-1
These two just keep bumping into each other and it hasn’t been a pleasant matchup for Alex de Minaur. His foot speed just doesn’t quite match the Greek’s attacking repertoire, especially if he’s playing well. Stefanos Tsitsipas’s recent form has been somewhat shaky, but this is a rivalry he’s always felt comfortable in. Make no mistake though, de Minaur has always forced him to produce quality tennis. Expect him to do it once again.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
