Miami draw, here’s which opponents the Italian favorites will have to face at the Florida Masters 1000.
So much has changed that it feels like much more than 2 weeks have passed. Meanwhile, because Matteo Berrettini is back and has done so, contrary to expectations, in style. No one would have bet on his victory in the first round of the Phoenix Challenger, but the Roman managed to surprise us once again.
The former number 1 of Italy beat not only his first opponent in fluency, but also the next 3. Two of them even knocked them out within hours of each other. We’re still not at the levels of the Berrettini catcher who was a Slam animal, but that doesn’t mean he can’t hope to match the performances of yesteryear. Maybe not now, maybe not in Florida, but never say never. Miami will certainly be, no matter what, a great test for him. He will play by taking advantage of the protected ranking and will not have to face, therefore, the qualifiers: rather, he will enter by right in the main draw and will be able to compare himself, therefore, with the bigs with whom he sat, so to speak, at the table in the past. We shall see, then, what this Masters 1000 has in store for him.
And we will also see what it will hold in store for Jannik Sinner, whose unbeaten streak was broken in Indian Wells by Carlos Alcaraz. The Iberian, in great form, defeated the South Tyrolean in 3 sets and even won the title, much to the chagrin of those who thought he had switched off. Macché off: he had only taken a break, but as soon as he sensed the overtaking by his fiercest rival, he was like rekindled.
Miami scoreboard draw: here’s what’s in store
Another round, another race, anyway. There is a change of location and a change of music as well, reasoning that anything could happen at the Miami Masters 1000, orphaned by Novak Djokovic, who has decided to forgo the tournament and favor, from now on, the Slams and the Olympics.
There are many dogs on the bone, however, and the one most “hungry” of all is our very own Sinner, who last year made it to the finals but was beaten, then, by Daniil Medvedev. He will certainly want to make up for it and win the title that slipped out of his hands 365 days ago, so Alcaraz may not have an easy time, this time, against him. It all depends, in any case, on what the draw for the main draw in Miami, scheduled for today, March 18, at 6 p.m. Italian time, will decide for him and Berrettini.
Berrettini will face Andy Murray in the first round, while Sinner has a bye and will begin in the second with Argentina’s Cachin, or a qualifier. There is also a bye for Musetti, who could face either Safiullin or a qualifier; Sonego will face Evans, while Arnaldi will face Fils and Nardi will have to go through qualifying before eventually entering the main draw.