Carlos Alcaraz will probably be again on the court docket on the Miami Open on Monday, aiming for a spot within the final 16. His opponent is Gael Monfils, giving the followers a matchup worthy of popcorn. Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Musetti are additionally in third-round motion.
Listed here are my previews and picks.
(1) Carlos Alcaraz vs. Gael MonfilsAlcaraz and Monfils will probably be squaring off for the second time of their careers on Monday. Their solely earlier assembly got here on the 2022 Indian Wells Masters, the place the Spaniard acquired the job accomplished 7-5, 6-1. Alcaraz ended up shedding within the semifinals of that ’22 IW occasion, however he has since triumphed in Tennis Paradise twice in succession. Alcaraz’s most up-to-date BNP Paribas Open title offers him a ton of momentum heading into the Miami Open, the place rolled over compatriot Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2, 6-1 on Saturday.
Monfils is wholesome in the mean time; thanks largely to that cause, he’s in resurgent kind within the twilight of his profession. The 37-year-old has received 10 matches this season, together with 5 mixed up to now in Indian Wells and Miami. Constructing on his fourth-round displaying in Palm Spring, Monfils has picked up victories up to now this fortnight over Dusan Lajovic and Jordan Thompson. In addition to Monfils is taking part in, this match is on Alcaraz’s racket.
Choose: Alcaraz in 2(23) Lorenzo Musetti vs. (16) Ben SheltonMusetti s has a number of fashion, however there’s extra substance in Shelton’s sport. Shelton owns the most important serve on the circuit — at the least from a far per hour standpoint — and has used it to succeed in a rating of No. 17 on the earth. The 21-year-old American received two matches on the Indian Wells Masters earlier than shedding to Jannik Sinner and he kicked off his Miami marketing campaign by beating Martin Landaluce 6-3, 6-4.
Though Musetti is unquestionably an all-court participant versus a clay-court specialist, he’s in all probability trying ahead to a couple months of dirt-ball as a result of the onerous courts have principally been unkind to him up to now this season. His 2024 file stands at a mere 6-8 this season and he was 1-5 in his final six matches going into Miami — the place he defeated Roman Safiullin 7-5, 6-1. The Twenty fourth-ranked Italian might be going through too large of a take a look at in opposition to Shelton’s highly effective lefty sport.
Choose: Shelton in 2Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
