With the Miami Masters heating up as we get into Round 2 featuring some of the bigger names in the event I give you my predictions for three matches with solid odds plus two bonus picks. Unsurprisingly these don't feature Federer or Djokovic who are at ridiculously low odds to win today, even in straight sets.
Auger-Aliassime vs Fucsovics
Both these players are in their ascendancy and have been winning more than loosing this year. Whilst Fucsovics may have lost his last two he was taking on both Federer and Wawrinka and whilst he didn't manage to win a set against Federer he did take one off Wawrinka and lost in a very tight match. Overall Fucsovics is a much improved player over the past year and a half and he is a power hitter from the back capable of taking out Auger-Aliassime in straight sets. I expect his experience to give him the edge over the young Canadian teenager who whilst looking in very good form, has yet to score a victory over any big player if you exclude his win over the struggling Fognini (mainly due to injury).
Prediction:
Fucsovics also won the only head to head these two have had in October last year in Vienna. I expect another tight affair but Fucsovics represents good odds at 1.80.
Pouille vs Ramos
Frenchman Pouille has been slowly slipping down the rankings as his inconsistent form continues and his promise as a young talent still doesn't seem to be bearing fruit.
He has had two first round exits against players he should have easily beaten in his past two tournaments and looks like he is about to hit another poor run of form after a surprised run to the semi final of the Australian Open.
Today he faces a solid rallier from the back who won't give him an inch for free. The experienced Spaniard maybe prefer Clay but Ramos is no easy opponent for Pouille . Whilst the bookies have Pouille as clear favourite I think Ramos has a 40% chance of winning this one so his odds at 2.37 represent a good take. They always say bad results come in threes, here's me sensing another early exit from another tournament for Pouille.
Prediction:
Taking the momentum into this match from his first round straight sets win over Copil, Ramos will also be aware he holds a 3-1 head to head lead over Pouille with their last match coming two years ago at the French Open where Ramos edged it 3-2. I am going for Ramos here at 2.37.
Shapovalov vs Evans
Lucky loser and Brit Dan Evans was given a second bite at the cherry after being upset in straight sets by ranked 131st Alexander Bublik in the qualifying rounds. He took that opportunity to then beat world number 59th Malek Jaziri in straight sets in the first round - go figure? Evans is slowly clawing his way back up the rankings after his drug suspension ended last year. Today he will face a tougher challenge than Jaziri when he takes on upcoming teenager and Canadian Denis Shapovalov who is trying to find his way on the tour.
Like Evans Shapovalov has yet to win his maiden ATP title and is 9 wins and 6 losses this year. He's been ousted by two veterans of the game he should have won against - world number 43 Mikhail Kukushkin and world number 49 Pierre Herbert. Whilst these players are by no means pushovers, the Canadian if he is to break into the top 20 in the world should be beating these types week in week out.
With these losses and Daniel Evans surge in form since returning including almost winning his maiden ATP title in the final at Delray Beach this year, I am going for the Brit to upset the teenager here. This one will be very close, even the bookmakers only just have Shapovalov as the favourite even though he is almost 70 places above Evans in the rankings! Evans who is tactically astute against even the best of players (think vs Federer at the Australian Open) has the potential to frustrate the teenager and get under his skin, especially off the backhand slice. But is also more than capable of being the aggressor at the net, a part of the game Shapovalov has yet to become familiar with applying on tour.
Prediction:
These two have met twice before with Evans claiming victory in both matches. The most recent and memorable being the in the Davis cup in 2017 where Evans comfortably beat Shapovalov 3-0. Evans at 2.00 to win outright.
Other Matches to Take:
Opelka vs Schwartzman - Opelka at 1.90
Tiafoe vs Kecmanovic - Kecmanovic at 2.37
Comments