With eight intriguing fourth-round matches on the slate on day seven at the ATP Miami Open, there should be plenty of entertaining tennis for fans to enjoy. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate including Lorenzo Sonego vs Stefanos Tsitsipas. But who will reach the quarterfinals?
ATP Miami Open Day Seven Predictions
Emil Ruusuvuori vs Jannik Sinner
Head-to-head: Ruusuvuori 1-0 Sinner
This may be the first tour-level meeting between Jannik Sinner and Emil Ruusuvuori, but it seems to be almost certain that it will not be the last. Both men have played well so far at the ATP Miami Open, with Ruusuvuori opening his campaign with a hard-fought win over Carlos Alcaraz before stunning Alexander Zverev in the second round. The Finn backed that up by beating Mikael Ymer from a set down in the round of 32.
Sinner, who enjoyed a first-round bye, has accounted for Hugo Gaston, for the loss of only four games, and 14th seed Karen Khachanov, who he edged out in three sets. He may find things similarly close against Ruusuvuori. The Finn won their only previous meeting, at the Canberra Challenger, in fairly comfortable fashion and whilst Sinner has improved in the interim, Ruusuvuori’s excellent movement will likely ask serious questions for him once again. But expect him to have the answers in Miami.
Prediction: Sinner in 3
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Daniil Medvedev vs Frances Tiafoe
Head-to-head: Medvedev 3-1 Tiafoe
Daniil Medvedev comes into this match the favourite, particularly after hammering Frances Tiafoe in relatively similar conditions at the US Open last season. But Tiafoe is a player who has given him problems in the past, with the American the victor in their first meeting, which came back in 2015 at Challenger-level, whilst Tiafoe also took a set off Medvedev at the Australian Open in 2020. So far in Miami, he has beaten Stefano Travaglia, Dan Evans and Dusan Lajovic.
However, he has had to go the distance in all three matches. Medvedev has been tested as well, having to overcome cramps to get past his practice partner Alexei Popyrin in the third round after a convincing win over Lu Yen-hsun in his opener. Tiafoe, who boasts formidable power from the back of the court when he is at his best, will likely pose Medvedev similar questions to Popyrin. But the American has not quite been at his best so far in Miami and, as a result, Medvedev should be too strong.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
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Diego Schwartzman vs Sebastian Korda
Head-to-head: first meeting
Sebastian Korda unquestionably has work to do on improving the consistency of his performances, but when the American is firing, he is a very hard man to stop. Recent Dubai Tennis Championships winner and Australian Open semifinalist Aslan Karatsev found out as much as Korda swept him aside in the third round for the loss of only three games. That followed victories over Radu Albot and 10th seed Fabio Fognini. Next up for the 20-year-old is Diego Schwartzman.
The Argentine, seeded fifth at the ATP Miami Open, began his campaign with a comprehensive 6-3 6-3 win over Yasutaka Uchiyama in the second round after a bye in the first. He was equally impressive in dismissing 25th seed Adrian Mannarino, with the Frenchman winning just five games. And, in truth, as well as Korda has played, it is hard to see him getting past Schwartzman in this kind of form. Expect Schwartzman’s court coverage and accuracy from the baseline to give him the edge.
Prediction: Schwartzman in 3
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Marin Cilic vs Andrey Rublev
Head-to-head: Rublev 2-1 Cilic
Andrey Rublev has made light work of Tennys Sandgren and Marton Fucsovics to begin his week at the ATP Miami Open in formidable style. The American and the Hungarian managed just six games between them, with the fourth-seeded Rublev routing both in short order. He may face more resistance up against Marin Cilic, however, with the Croatian enjoying his best run on the ATP Tour in some time thanks to victories over Federico Coria, Cristian Garin and Lorenzo Musetti.
That said, although Cilic at his best could expect to match Rublev, the former-world #3 still bears no more than a passing resemblance to the player that stormed to the US Open title in 2014. His serve may give him a chance to stay with Rublev, but he will need to improve significantly on the 51% first-serve percentage he mustered against Musetti. And, even if he does, Rublev’s bruising groundstrokes look likely to cause Cilic all manner of problems.
Prediction: Rublev in 2
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