ATP Masters in Miami, quarter-finals, Thursday, 30/03/2023
Will he make it back to the top of the world rankings later this year? Daniil Medvedev has his sights set high for 2023, with three titles already in his showcase.
In Miami, he has not yet had to push his limits, and in the quarter-finals he will also be up against an opponent who is far behind him. In my Eubanks Medvedev tip, I therefore reveal why I can still imagine a close match, although there is a clear favourite at Bet365!
The year 2023 is not even three months old and already Daniil Medvedev has really experienced everything! After his early, unexpected exit at the Australian Open, his performances have visibly improved.
He won three titles in a row, outplayed many of the world’s elite and even knocked Novak Djokovic out of the tournament once. Once he arrived in Indian Wells, the problems started to mount up again.
He won a few times, among others against Alexander Zverev, quite happily, before he met Carlos Alcaraz in the final and lost there very clearly. Something that should not be repeated in Miami, of course.
In the last two years, Medvedev was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Masters, even in two sets. The betting companies seem to be sure: THAT definitely can’t happen to the Russian this time!
The odds in his quarter-final show a 1.05 to 9.35, so that couldn’t be clearer. Medvedev has not had to produce any brilliant performances in recent days, the quality of his opponents has been rather mediocre.
After his 6-1, 6-2 win over Roberto Carballes, his next opponent Alex Molcan decided not to play due to injury. Medvedev saved his strength, did not have to push his limits even in his 6-4, 6-2 against Quentin Halys.
He did not leave his opponent a single break chance, so he has to serve in the quarter-finals as well. For a good reason, because his opponent, Christopher Eubanks, is 2.01 metres tall.
Never having played each other before, Eubanks will know that he is pegged as a chanceless underdog by the bookies. The world number 119 is THE big sensation in Miami!
He is 26 years old, so he is certainly no longer one of the young guns. Twice he was eliminated in Miami in the first round, the other two participations ended for him already in the qualification.
A good catchword, because he also started in the qualifying round this year. He lost the very first set against Lukas Klein 6-7, but at least Eubanks was able to save the match with a 6-3, 7-6.
His main draw started with a 7-6, 6-2 against Denis Kudla, from then on the opponents became much more demanding. Against Borna Coric, Eubanks came back strongly, finishing 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
After taking a 6-3, 7-6 against Gregoire Barrere on court, the match against Adrian Mannarino was on the agenda. It was only two sets, but it was a tough one.
The outsider prevailed 7-6, 7-6, winning his tiebreaks three and four. He hit twelve aces and only let Mannarino break once, not a bad performance for a qualifier.
Despite his height, however, he didn’t get close to 70% points won on first serve in the last 16, and he will definitely have to improve in that regard against Medvedev.
My Eubanks Medvedev Tip
For Daniil Medvedev, things are still pretty quiet in Miami, even now in the quarter-finals he didn’t get a banger in the draw. Is the Russian taking a more relaxed, perhaps even less concentrated approach?
His opponent, Christopher Eubanks, has already surprised several times, is over two metres tall and very strong nerves in tiebreaks. Since the crowd will be pushing him, I can imagine a somewhat closer encounter and I’m guessing:
We see more than 18,5 Games!
