The seeded stars within the backside half of the Miami Open offered by Itau draw start their campaigns on Saturday, when Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev and Felix Auger-Aliassime will probably be in motion.
The second seed Tsitsipas takes on Frenchman Richard Gasquet, whereas fourth seed Medvedev will look to construct on his run to the ultimate in Indian Wells towards Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena. Fifth seed Auger-Aliassime takes on Thiago Monteiro.
Hubert Hurkacz, Cameron Norrie and Ben Shelton may even take to courtroom in Miami. ATPTour.com runs by way of among the key second-round matchups on present.
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[2] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
After hovering to the Australian Open ultimate in January, Tsitsipas has slowed in current weeks. The Greek fell within the second spherical in Rotterdam after which was unable to compete in Acapulco as a result of a shoulder harm. He continued to really feel the results of the difficulty in Indian Wells, the place he suffered an opening-round exit.
The second seed will probably be hoping his troubles are behind him as he goals to bounce again in Miami, beginning towards Gasquet.
“My health is the most important thing that I could have in tennis,” mentioned Tsitsipas, who reached the quarter-finals in Miami in 2021. “”When I’m feeling healthy, everything falls into place nicely. I’m enjoying myself on the court, I’m getting creative, I can mix up my game and I feel like nothing can go wrong. This is what my aim is for this tournament, to just play pain-free and see how my arm responds on these next few days.”
Chasing his first title of the season and third ATP Masters 1000 crown, Tsitsipas will hope to make a quick begin towards Gasquet, with the pair locked at 1-1 of their ATP Head2Headvert collection. The 36-year-old Frenchman defeated Christopher O’Connell within the first spherical to earn his 596th tour-level win. Closing in on 600, Gasquet will purpose to upset Tsitsipas and edge nearer to that standout milestone.
Bringing the warmth 🔥 off each wings ‼️@richardgasquet1 hitting high-level #ShotQuality scores on each forehand and backhand in his 3-set win over O’Connell
8.8 Fh #ShotQuality (7.2 Tour Avg.)
8.5 Bh #ShotQuality (7.0 Tour Avg.)Sets up a battle of the single-handers towards… pic.twitter.com/QcqL7BFZxl
— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) March 24, 2023
[4] Daniil Medvedev vs. Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP)
Medvedev’s 19-match successful streak got here to an finish final week in Indian Wells, the place Carlos Alcaraz defeated him within the championship match. The 27-year-old, who received titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai final month, is nonetheless delighted with the place his sport is at as he seems to start out a contemporary run towards Carballes Baena.
“I managed to get back in the zone, which I didn’t really have for all of 2022, when I was less consistent,” Medvedev mentioned when requested about his current kind. “I would have some good matches or tournaments but out of nowhere I would have one bad match. I’ve managed to avoid that the past four weeks. I have no idea how I have done it, but I am really happy and want to continue.”
During the title match in Indian Wells, Alcaraz used the drop shot to use Medvedev’s deep-court place. Carballes Baena trails Medvedev 0-1 of their ATP Head2Headvert collection and should look to observe Alcaraz’s playbook and apply the identical tactic in Miami to upset the fourth seed’s rhythm. Medvedev, who has reached consecutive quarter-finals in Miami, will hope his consistency and depth will show an excessive amount of for Carballes Baena, who’s 4-7 on the season.
[5] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) vs. Thiago Monteiro (BRA)
Auger-Aliassime arrives in Miami at a career-high No. 6 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings after advancing to the quarter-finals in Indian Wells final week. The Canadian, who misplaced to Alcaraz in California, will probably be anticipating extra, nonetheless, as he goals to hit the heights of 2022.
The fifth seed received 4 tour-level titles final 12 months, however has but to achieve a ultimate at any of the six occasions he has performed this season. The 22-year-old will probably be hoping to alter that file in Miami, the place he holds fond recollections.
Auger-Alassime soared to the semi-finals on debut in 2019, advancing from qualifying to announce himself on Tour. Starting his match on the second-round stage this week, he’ll look to hit by way of Monteiro together with his damaging forehand and enhance to 3-0 of their ATP Head2Headvert collection. The Brazilian Monteiro defeated Jason Kubler within the first spherical and is presently No. 80 within the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.
Also In Action…
Eighth seed Hurkacz captured the most important title of his profession two years in the past when he defeated Jannik Sinner to triumph in Miami. The Pole, who additionally reached the semi-finals on the hard-court occasion final 12 months, begins his title quest towards Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis.
#NextGenATP American Ben Shelton is the thirty second seed in Miami. The 20-year-old has loved a breakthrough season and can purpose to construct on his robust begin towards Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
The eleventh seed Cameron Norrie meets Frenchman Gregoire Barrere, whereas 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals runner-up Jiri Lehecka performs 18th-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
Source web site: www.atptour.com
