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By Ricky Dimon
There can be no secrets and techniques concerned in no less than two of the third-round matchups on Monday on the Miami Masters. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur have already confronted one another 10 occasions, whereas Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul are greatest pals on tour.
Listed here are my previews and picks for 2 of one of the best matchups.
(3) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. (25) Alex de Minaur
Tsitsipas and de Minaur can be squaring off for the eleventh time of their careers after they meet once more in spherical three of the Miami Open on Monday. The pinnacle-to-head collection is being completely dominated by Tsitsipas, who has received all seven of their main-tour encounters. De Minaur no less than managed to beat the Greek in qualifying on the 2017 Surbiton Challenger, however he has misplaced all 9 of their different matches. They most just lately collided final month on the indoor onerous courts of Rotterdam, the place Tsitsipas cruised 6-4, 6-4.
There may be, nevertheless, some excellent news for de Minaur. The Twenty eighth-ranked Australian improved to 12-5 this season with a 6-2, 6-3 rout of compatriot Jordan Thompson on Saturday and he’s coming off a fourth-round look in Indian Wells, the place he pushed eventual champion Taylor Fritz to a third-set tiebreaker. Tsitsipas has not performed nicely since he defeated de Minaur in Rotterdam. The world No. 5 acquired blown out by Felix Auger-Aliassime within the remaining of that match after which misplaced to Roman Safiullin in Marseille, to Cameron Norrie in Acapulco, and to Jenson Brooksby in Indian Wells. In gradual Miami circumstances, Tsitsipas will battle to get the ball previous de Minaur’s protection–making for one more motive why an upset is nicely throughout the realm of risk.
Decide: De Minaur in 3
(11) Taylor Fritz vs. Tommy Paul
Will Fritz’s greatest good friend on tour be the one to finish his sizzling streak? It’s attainable, as a result of subsequent up for the Indian Wells champion is none aside from Paul. They’ve confronted one another 5 occasions general, with Paul main the head-to-head collection 3-2. Their two current encounters final fall (their solely two on the ATP degree) have been cut up; Fritz received 7-6(3), 6-4 in St. Petersburg earlier than Paul prevailed 6-4, 6-4 in Stockholm.
With Paul additionally in nice kind, this one might clearly go both means. The world No. 37 upset Alexander Zverev en path to the Indian Wells third spherical (misplaced to de Minaur) and up to now in Miami he has ousted Benjamin Bonzi and Karen Khachanov–the latter in a third-set tiebreaker. Each People are extremely strong off each wings from the baseline, however the distinction could possibly be that Fritz will undoubtedly win much more free factors on serve. Plus, the arrogance from an eight-match profitable streak can’t be discounted.
Decide: Fritz in 3
Ricky contributes to10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can observe him on twitter at @Dimonator.
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