The tennis calendar is stacking up as we go into the spring portion of the season. As Indian Wells comes to a close, the ATP Tour flies to the other side of the U.S. to be greeted with the second half of the Sunshine Double in Miami. On the first day, we already have plenty of interesting matches to predict, including Kyle Edmund’s comeback against red-hot Yibing Wu and Marton Fucsovics’ resurgence against ATP newbie Pedro Cachin. As always, we at LWOT have the preview and prediction for those matched and all other happenings around the grounds of Miami. We split the rest between three matches–featuring Ugo Humbert vs Gael Monfils, Andy Murray vs Dusan Lajovic, and Fabio Fognini vs Jan-Lennard Struff.
ATP Miami Day 1 Predictions
Kyle Edmund vs Yibing Wu
Head-to-head: First meeting
Why hasn’t Kyle Edmund dropped down a level? He hasn’t defeated a Top 100 opponent since 2020 and has lost his last twelve sets in a row. Baby steps should be taken coming back from injury and, though some of his game remains, getting used to the speed of opponent’s serves at ATP level will take a lot of match practice.
With that said, the prediction here is fairly easy. Though he isn’t an established member of the ATP’s elite quite yet, Yibing Wu should find it easier to stay metronomic in these conditions than in Indian Wells, putting Edmund under constant pressure. Edmund should consider some Challengers on his favourite surface come the clay swing.
Prediction: Wu in 2
Alexei Popyrin vs Mikael Ymer
Head-to-head: Popyrin 1-0 Ymer (all levels)
It’s safe to say Alexei Popyrin has got some peak. When he’s feeling the conditions and he’s finding the first serve, it’s difficult for anybody to hang with him.
Mikael Ymer played Popyrin for the first time only last week in Phoenix and he won only four games. The result could be the same but it’s difficult to trust Popyrin in consecutive tournaments. Ymer is an immensely talented athlete–we’ll trust in his ability to track down every ball in the slightly slower conditions to get his revenge over the Australian.
Prediction: Ymer in 3
Pedro Cachin vs Marton Fucsovics
Head-to-head: First meeting
Pedro Cachin hasn’t had the start to 2023 he’d have been expecting. Though he’s certainly more comfortable on clay, like his compatriot Francisco Cerundolo, he has a forehand that’s good enough to allow him to excel on any surface. However, it hasn’t been clicking, even on clay during the Golden Swing.
The confidence is quickly being sapped from his game and this isn’t the tournament at which to regain it. Marton Fucsovics is making his way back up the rankings–wins over Alex De Minaur, Alex Molcan and J. J. Wolf last week at Indian Wells leave him looking well and truly formidable. Couple this with the fact he’s a fairly bad match up for Cachin in terms of rally temperament and backhand power and this shouldn’t be too much trouble for the former world #31.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 2
John Isner vs Emilio Nava
Head-to-head: First meeting
Emilio Nava is an immensely talented youngster with plenty of latent, explosive firepower. Enough to hold serve plenty of times which is all that’s needed to be in with a chance against John Isner.
Let’s not forget how much Isner loves it here in Miami though. Even if you take him to a tiebreak here, he has won 14 of his last 17 at this event (though he has lost his last two). There’s something here in Miami–whether it’s the balls, the conditions, the home crowd–that makes Isner fantastic under pressure. It’ll be close but we’re backing big John in three.
Prediction: Isner in 3
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
