It promises to be an exciting fourth day at the ATP Miami Open with a host of star names set to take to the court in Florida. As always, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Cameron Norrie vs Gregoire Barrere and Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Richard Gasquet. But who will reach the third round?
ATP Miami Day 4 Predictions
Lorenzo Musetti vs Jiri Lehecka
Head-to-head: Lehecka 1-0 Musetti
Their one prior meeting was about a year ago in Rotterdam which took place on fast hard courts. Lehecka prevailed and has continued in an upward trajectory since then, while Lorenzo Musetti has done the opposite. Musetti plays his best on clay and had a good year last year on the surface but struggled on hard.
Jiri Lehecka plays a hard-hitting game and is a danger to anyone on hard courts. The 21-year-old has been playing great tennis and showed his abilities on the big stage when he reached this year’s Australian Open quarterfinal. Lehecka looks like the better player, is playing on his best surface, and is in better form. This match will go his way.
Prediction: Lehecka in 3
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Frances Tiafoe vs Yosuke Watanuki
Head-to-head: first meeting
This is the most lopsided matchup of the day. Frances Tiafoe is one of the most exciting players on tour and has established himself as one of the top American players, while Watanuki is trying to break into the top-100 for the first time. Tiafoe looked great in Indian Wells, winning four matches in straight sets before losing a close semifinal to Daniil Medvedev.
Yosuke Watanuki has played well so far this year, but most of his events have been at the Challenger level and he has not had success against top players. Tiafoe has too much power for Watanuki and his exciting tennis will surely get a rowdy American crowd behind him on the grandstand in a one-sided affair.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 2
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Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Thiago Monteiro
Head-to-head: Auger-Aliassime 2-0 Monteiro
Their two prior meetings were both at slams with Felix Auger-Aliassime winning each and losing just one set combined in the two matches. While the Canadian has not won a title this year, he is still an elite hard court player. Auger-Aliassime had a good run to the Indian Wells quarterfinal where he lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Thiago Monteiro has had a fairly slow start to the year and had lost his last three hard court matches before his first round win over Jason Kubler. Auger-Aliassime has more power than Monteiro can handle, and the faster courts in Miami only play more into his advantage. Monteiro has just one win over a top-10 player in his career and does not have the game to do it again here in Miami.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 2
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Hubert Hurkacz vs Thanasi Kokkinakis
Head-to-head: Kokkinakis 1-0 Hurkacz
Hubert Hurkacz will be looking to bounce back after an early loss in Indian Wells. The 2021 champion and defending semifinalists comes in under the radar but has the game to make a deep run. Both players enjoy hard courts and Hurkacz already has a title this year in Marsailles. Thanasi Kokkinakis, meanwhile, is still on a bit of a comeback to regularly compete on tour but has done well in qualifying for recent events.
He had an incredible fight in the first round, coming back from a final set deficit and saving several match points to defeat Zizou Bergs. Kokkinakis has a big game that can compete with anyone but Hurkacz is a solid player with a big serve that will keep him in control of the match. He lost to Benoit Paire here in qualifying and has looked a bit shaky, as well as spending almost five hours on court in his last two matches. Hurkacz will be fresh, control the match, and get back on track in a place he has had plenty of success.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 2
Main photo credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
