The Round of 16 matches look very appetizing indeed at the ATP Miami Open with the top seeds making it through alongside some of the most mercurial talents in the game. There are plenty of players who will fancy their chances of ultimate glory in Florida this week, but who will make it to the quarterfinals? We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
ATP Miami Open Day 7 Predictions
Francisco Cerundolo vs Frances Tiafoe
Head-to-head: First meeting
Historically, Tiafoe is the far more experienced hard court player. The American also has a winning record on hard courts and does well in Miami traditionally, however, Cerundolo is showing a liking for these courts as well this week. There is little to choose between them on service hold and with the abrasive surface of the Miami courts perhaps taking the edge off the Tiafoe power there is every chance that this could become a tough battle. I think that Cerundolo could cause a little upset here by taking it in a third set.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 3
Casper Ruud vs Cameron Norrie
Head-to-head: Ruud 2-0
The Norwegian certainly had the upper hand against Norrie at the back end of last season where they met twice in quick succession. It is 19-15 in games played between the pair and that tallies also with their respective hard court records over the last twelve months. Ruud’s serve has been excellent on hard courts, but Norrie’s return has been slightly better. Both men are in good form again in 2022, both have won titles, but I expect Norrie to produce another tough performance here and drive Ruud all the way to a decider. The Briton may well have the consistency and attitude to take it at the death.
Prediction: Norrie in 3
Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Alexander Zverev
Head-to-head: Kokkinakis 1-0
When these two last played, at the Hopman Cup in the back end of 2017, Kokkinakis was an exceptionally promising youngster with the talent to win tournaments for many years. In reality the Aussie has been on the treatment table more than the court and took until this season to win his first tournament. However, he still possesses that talent and is a player unafraid of the big stage as we saw in Australia with his doubles title.
Zverev hasn’t looked bulletproof of late but does still have a much better record on return than Kokkinakis. There is very little difference between their service numbers, but the German is able to get more balls back and win more points on return consistently when compared to the Australian. However, when looking at the players Zverev has lost to this season, Tommy Paul, Alexander Bublik, Denis Shapovalov, all of them are good servers who can do something unpredictable. I think Kokkinakis has what it takes to beat Zverev here.
Prediction: Kokkinakis in 3
Nick Kyrgios vs Jannik Sinner
Head-to-head: First meeting
The Indian Wells crowd were denied a match between these two talents last week but hopefully the Miami attendees will get some great entertainment out of this. Sinner has saved match points in both matches so far, 8 in total, so the Italian is certainly showing the grit and determination to make his way through the draw.
The problem is that Kyrgios is something of a juggernaut at the moment. Breaking the Australian’s serve is going to be very difficult to do and so Sinner may have to rely on frustrating Kyrgios in a tiebreak, which can happen! However, Kyrgios will also be dangerous on return and we have seen before how Sinner’s serve can sometimes feed the best returners in the game at the highest level. It should be a cracker but I favor the chances of Kyrgios in this match.
Prediction: Kyrgios in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
