Alexander Zverev desperately needs to bounce back after the recent losses, including the opening round in Indian Wells. Trying to take down the No. 1 seed will be Jacob Fearnley, whose run started in the qualifying. Former champion Hubert Hurkacz is also in action, alongside the recent Indian Wells runner-up, Holger Rune. Who do you think will advance to the next stage of the ATP Miami Masters on Day 4?
ATP Miami Day 4 Predictions
Adam Walton vs Luciano Darderi
Head-to-head: First meeting
Wins have been extremely rare for Luciano Darderi recently with only the farewell match of Dominic Thiem and a retirement from Hugo Dellien between October and the start of this event. It’s not like the Italian doesn’t have major weapons, but he’s still learning to utilize them better on hard courts. He was originally supposed to face Hubert Hurkacz before the Pole pulled out, letting in Adam Walton. That’s undeniably much easier, but it still might not be enough for Darderi to get another hard-court win.
Prediction: Walton in 3
Denis Shapovalov vs Thiago Agustin Tirante
Head-to-head: First meeting
Things were looking a bit bleak for Thiago Agustin Tirante after he couldn’t qualify for any Golden Swing event, but he’s turned it around since with a Challenger title on altitude clay and three matches won here. When he’s confident, the former junior No. 1 can serve well and smack his inside-out forehands in any conditions. But this should be the end of the road for him. Denis Shapovalov is playing some of the best tennis of his life and it’s just not easy to defeat him at the moment.
Prediction: Shapovalov in 2
Holger Rune vs Reilly Opelka
Head-to-head: First meeting
Holger Rune played his best tennis in months during the run to the Indian Wells final, but you can’t deny there’s a bit of a sour taste with how comfortably he was taken out by Jack Draper. Now it’s all about whether the 21-year-old can build upon that or whether it will be another flash in the pan. Succeeding in Miami might be difficult with the fatigue from Indian Wells and very different conditions, but he’s complete enough to have more options than Reilly Opelka and probably win, one way or another.
Prediction: Rune in 3
Alexander Zverev vs Jacob Fearnley
Head-to-head: Zverev 1-0
Alexander Zverev has been struggling ever since making the Australian Open final (he beat Jacob Fearnley in the third round). His mind wasn’t in it during the Golden Swing, but he also went out in the opening round at Indian Wells. That said, Tallon Griekspoor was playing incredibly well at that event and could have eliminated almost anybody. So while Zverev can’t be high on confidence at the moment, you still expect him to grab a couple of wins in Miami as the draw is way more manageable this time.
Prediction: Zverev in 2
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
