The second leg of the Sunshine Double continues on Thursday, as the ATP Miami Open hosts 16 men’s matches. The four in this article feature players meeting for the very first time. As always, we at LWOT have previews and predictions for these matches. But who will advance?<\/p>\n
Head\u2013to\u2013Head: First Meeting<\/p>\n
Tomas Machac arrives in Miami looking to halt a rare slide, having dropped his last three matches after lifting the Adelaide title in January. The Czech hasn\u2019t played much since that breakthrough, but when his rhythm clicks, especially behind the first serve, he remains a dangerous proposition on hard courts.<\/p>\n
Emilio Nava isn\u2019t exactly brimming with confidence either, carrying his own three-match skid and still searching for consistency at Tour-level. On paper, this is Machac\u2019s match to dictate if he finds his serve early, the outcome should be firmly on his racquet. Head\u2013to\u2013Head:\u00a0 First Meeting<\/p>\n Arthur Cazaux is still trying to find his rhythm in 2026. The Frenchman, who climbed to a career-high ranking of #58 last October, has barely featured since early January, managing just a handful of Challenger outings after failing to break through qualifying in Brisbane. There\u2019s little doubt about his talent, but match sharpness could be an issue as he steps back onto the main stage.<\/p>\n That uncertainty gives Tomas Barrios Vera a real look-in. The Chilean is closing in on a third tour-level win of the season, matching his career best, but remains far more comfortable on clay. On paper, this matchup leans toward Cazaux if he can shake off the rust, with Barrios Vera\u2019s surface preference potentially offering the Frenchman the ideal opening in their first career meeting. But with two matches already in Miami, give me the Chilean to stage an upset.
\nPrediction: Machac in<\/em> 2<\/p>\nArthur Cazaux vs Tom\u00e1s Barrios Vera<\/h4>\n
\nPrediction: Barrios Vera in 3<\/em><\/p>\n