Seeds come into play on the Day 3 of the 2022 ATP Miami Open. That includes the absolute blockbuster of a second-round matchup between Andrey Rublev and Nick Kyrgios. The Australian has been a different player this Sunshine Double, giving him a chance even against someone in such form. Who do you think will advance?
ATP Miami Open Day 3 Predictions
Taro Daniel vs Fabio Fognini
Head-to-head: Fognini 2-0
He might not be making headlines, but Taro Daniel is playing the best tennis of his life in 2022. The Japanese finds himself at 17-6 for the year, owing that mostly to the improved serve, but also a more proactive approach to the baseline game. Meanwhile, Fabio Fognini has only had one good event (Rio) and withdrew ahead of his second round at Indian Wells. The difference in form here is huge and probably outvalues the ranking or the previous head-to-head meetings between them.
Prediction: Daniel in 3
Pablo Carreno Busta vs David Goffin
Head-to-head: 2-2
These two players really need this win. Pablo Carreno Busta has only won one match since the Australian Open, while David Goffin made the quarterfinals at the Phoenix Challenger last week, but still finds himself very far from his best. The Belgian leads their head-to-head on hard courts 2-1. But all these matches came in 2019, and it’s undeniable that he’s the one who’s declined more since then (Carreno Busta has probably improved). Sharp, clean ball-striking from the ground is a feature of this matchup and at this point in time, the Spaniard’s baselining is more trustworthy.
Prediction: Carreno Busta in 3
Emil Ruusuvuori vs Jannik Sinner
Head-to-head: Sinner 2-1
Emil Ruusuvuori is one of the players high seeds definitely don’t want to see in their early-round draws. The Finn seems to have a perfect game for modern tennis, but just can’t seem to make the next step in his career. He can produce brilliance on occasion though and has scored upset wins in the past, including a very respectable 2-4 win/loss record against top 10 opponents. Jannik Sinner withdrew before his match with Nick Kyrgios at Indian Wells, citing illness. Whether that can impact him again is unclear, but if Ruusuvuori is at the top of his game, he’ll need a firm response to survive. Let’s see if he can produce it.
Prediction: Ruusuvuori in 3
Andrey Rublev vs Nick Kyrgios
Head-to-head: 1-1
This should be incredible. We’ve seen a different version of Nick Kyrgios these past two weeks, giving his best in absolutely every match. The Australian is a big stage player and very often finds the extra gear in matchups like this one. Andrey Rublev’s thirteen-match win streak was snapped by Taylor Fritz in Indian Wells semifinals, but that only proves the Russian is in spectacular form as well. If you trust Kyrgios to deliver his best, it’s a straight-up coin toss. Let’s hope for fireworks and make the Australian a slight favorite just because when it comes to the crunch, his serving could turn out to be key.
Prediction: Kyrgios in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
