Only eight men remain at the ATP Miami Open and Novak Djokovic will not be among them. The World No.1 suffered another earlier exit than anticipated which has the left the door ajar for another unlikely champion on Sunday. With rain halting play in Tuesday’s round of 16 matches, these are the predictions of the two quarterfinal matches scheduled on Wednesday.
Borna Coric vs Felix Auger-Aliassime
Head-To-Head: First meeting
We may have to get used to write the name Felix Auger-Aliassime more often than not. The young Canadian has been a breath of fresh air this year with some outstanding results off late. He is set to crack the Top 50 on Monday, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to do so. What is even more impressive is that he has reached the quarters as a qualifier beating an in-form Hubert Hurkacz and then the 17th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili in his last two matches in straight sets. His opponent Borna Coric seems to have shaken off a tumultuous start to the year. The Croat suffered an early defeat in Indian Wells which may be a blessing in disguise. Coric will now have the chance to usurp his best performance in Miami if he makes the semis. On the basis of his displays this week he could have his work cut out again. Auger-Aliassime will be unfazed by the prospect of facing Coric even though it is the Croat who will have big game experience in hand. The 18-year-old tore Stefanos Tsitsipas to shreds in the desert and he is playing such high level tennis which you would not associate to a man his age. Coric was on the ropes in his first match against Roberto Carballes Baena and if he plays anything close to that he could be in real trouble. Although his level improved, the win over Nick Kyrgios is certainly not a barometer of where his level is at. Auger-Aliassime is on a roll at the moment and I feel this is a very winnable match for him.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3
John Isner vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Head-To-Head: John Isner 2-1 Roberto Bautista Agut
Last meeting: 2016 Auckland (Agut won 7-5 2-6 6-3)
If you thought John Isner winning the Miami Open last year was crazy, well, he is on the cusp of doing it for the second straight year. Now, that would be some story. The American has served his way to the quarterfinals without the loss of a set. He has also proven to be the tiebreak King this fortnight winning all five tiebreaks he has played in. He has averaged 85% of first serve points won in his three matches. As a returner you would ask yourself how can you even break the Isner serve? Well, Bautista Agut could have the answer. The Spaniard had never made it past the round of 16 in Miami and that was largely due to the distinct monopoly of the Big Four in the latter stages of the tournament. He had to take matters into his own hands once again, this time successfully beating Novak Djokovic, the 6-time champion in Miami with a comeback win in three sets. While Isner may be overly reliant on his serve to dig him out of trouble more often than not, he has such a destructive forehand which earns him a lot of free points. Isner will be hard to beat and with all due respect to Bautista Agut, it will be added motivation for the American in avoiding Djokovic.
Prediction: Isner in 3
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