Atp Miami, in the second Masters 1000 of the season the last first round matches are scheduled: Lorenzo Sonego the only Italian in the field.
To see the first bigs – including Jannik Sinner – at work will have to wait until tomorrow, but day 2 of the Atp Miami, the second Masters 1000 of the season, features several interesting matches.
The only Italian engaged today on the concrete courts of the Florifìda is Lorenzo Sonego, ready to start a new battle with Britain’s Dan Evans. Fourth head-to-head between the two, the last of which was staged last January at the Australian Open. The Italian got the better of it in four sets, but the challenge a year ago, played precisely in Miami and also won by the Turin-based player in a comeback, had also been hard-fought. In short, Sonego is something of a black beast for the Englishman, who also surrendered against him in Vienna in 2020. We predict a hard-fought match this time as well, which could end in the third set. Eyes also on former top ten Felix Auger-Aliassime, unable to return to the level of two years ago after a long series of physical troubles. The Canadian in Indian Wells was very unlucky, nabbing world number two Carlos Alcaraz in the first round; in Miami, however, he should debut with a win against Australian Adam Walton, who landed in the main draw from qualifying. Also trying to move up the rankings is American Brandon Nakashima, after a season in which he disappointed expectations. The American, who came from the qualifiers, should have no trouble adjusting to Chilean Alajandro Tabilo, who is less effective on concrete.
Surprise Landaluce?
The surprise of the day could be the victory of 2006 class Martin Landaluce in the all-Spanish derby with Jaume Munar. The young Iberian is fresh off a semifinal in the Tenerife Challenger and has everything to surprise his more experienced compatriot.
The best of times seem to be gone for “Peque” Schwartzman, who had only one win in 2024, with world number 658. The Argentine has struggled in the qualifiers and does not seem able to challenge Russian Roman Safiullin. Closing today’s program is the match between circuit veterans, Dusan Lajovic vs. Gael Monfils: the Frenchman has prevailed in the two head-to-heads (2018 and 2021) and will almost certainly repeat, eliminating the Serb. Finally, balanced matches between Kovacevic and Marozsan and Galan and Shevchenko.
Atp Miami, the possible winners
Auger-Aliassime to Auger-Aliassime-Walton.
Nakashima in Tabilo-Nakashima
Landaluce in Landaluce-Munar
Safiullin in Safiullin-Schwarztman
Monfils in Lajovic-Monfils
Atp Miami, the matches that could end in the third set
Ofner-Nishikori
Kovacevic-Marozsan
Sonego-Evans
Galan-Shevchenko