ATP Masters in Miami, Quarter Finals, Thursday, 01.04.2022
The eight best players in Miami are going for the title! Besides the absolute top favourite Daniil Medvedev, a few surprises have also made it to the quarter-finals.
Two very young professionals, one among the co-favourites, the other not at all: when the first rally takes place on Thursday evening, the bookmakers have long since decided on the potential winner.
18 years old and already on his way to becoming one of the absolute top stars. For Carlos Alcaraz, 2022 could turn into a real triumph. The Spaniard has already cleaned up in Rio and is in impressive form.
In Indian Wells, he narrowly failed to beat Rafael Nadal after victories over Roberto Bautista Agut, Gael Monfils and Cameron Norrie, but he put this defeat behind him as quickly as possible.
At the Masters in Miami, he made it clear from the start why he is the top favourite for the title behind Daniil Medvedev. First, he eliminated Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 6-2, then he gave Marin Cilic no chance at 6-4, 6-4.
But his masterpiece for the time being came in the round of 16 against Stefanos Tsitsipas. 7-5, 6-3 against the world No. 5, many believe that Alcaraz will be able to reach similar heights before the end of the year.
He fended off seven breaks against Tsitsipas, but where there is still room for improvement is in the use of his own opportunities. He could have scored a total of 26 times, but did so only nine times.
Miomir Kecmanovic from Serbia is spending the days in Miami in an absolute frenzy and, as expected, does not want to end his winning streak yet. Those who now think that he simply had a lot of luck in the draw are very much mistaken.
After his 7-6, 6-4 win over Jack Sock, he was the clear underdog against Felix Auger-Aliassime – but the Serbian surprisingly clearly won 6-4, 6-2. Sebastian Korda could not keep up with him either, Kecmanovic won 7-6, 6-3.
At the latest when Taylor Fritz, the champion of Indian Wells, was waiting, everyone expected the success story to come to an end. The first set also went to the American 6-3, but then Kecmanovic turned up the heat.
6-1 and 6-4, he didn’t know what happened to him. He now deserves to be in the quarter-finals, having dropped only one set against strong competition. He was only broken three times, which is enormously strong.
But his performance is not so coincidental, the Serb was already strong in Indian Wells. He beat Marin Cilic and Matteo Berrettini, among others, and lost to Taylor Fritz in three sets. So the revenge has already succeeded once.
On Thursday, he will play his fourth quarter-final in a row. Will it finally be enough for the top four? At 22, he is only slightly older than Carlos Alcaraz, and they have never played each other before.
My Alcaraz Kecmanovic Tip
No question, Carlos Alcaraz is in absolute top form. That was to be expected, but what Miomir Kecmanovic has been bringing to the court for a few weeks now is at least as impressive.
The Serbian has beaten several top players, in Miami even a few outright. But in my opinion, Alcaraz is one league higher. Also because Stefanos Tsitsipas had no chance against him. Therefore my tip is:
Alcaraz wins 2:0!
