The semifinal lineup on the Miami Open will likely be set following the conclusion of play on Thursday. Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Grigor Dimitrov are amongst these hoping to punch their tickets to the ultimate 4. Alcaraz goes up in opposition to Dimitrov; Zverev is dealing with Fabian Marozsan.
Listed here are my previews and picks for the 2 matchups.(1) Carlos Alcaraz vs. (11) Grigor DimitrovAlcaraz received this event in 2022 earlier than shedding to Jannik Sinner within the semifinals final season. The 20-year-old is trying like a person who desires his Miami title again. Coming off victory on the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Alcaraz has prolonged his profitable streak to 9 matches with wins in South Seaside on the expense of Roberto Carballes Baena, Gael Monfils, and Lorenzo Musetti. The second seed has prevailed by set scores 6-2, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3, and 6-3.
The pinnacle-to-head collection between Alcaraz and Dimitrov stands at 3-1 in favor of the Spaniard. Nevertheless, Dimitrov received their most up-to-date encounter 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 on the 2023 Shanghai Masters. That gave the Bulgarian a spot within the quarterfinals and he has now reached this stage in any respect 9 Masters 1000 tournaments–Miami was the final lacking hyperlink. Dimitrov has superior by beating Alejandri Tabilo, Yannick Hanfmann, and Hubert Hurkacz–the latter in a third-set tiebreaker. The veteran is enjoying properly, however Alcaraz is on a distinct degree.
Choose: Alcaraz in 2(4) Alexander Zverev vs. Fabian Marozsan
Marozsan can be enjoying within the Miami Open quarters for the primary time. After all, that’s far much less shocking than it’s concerning Dimitrov. In spite of everything, Marozsan was largely unparalleled as just lately as final Might. That’s when the Hungarian shocked Alcaraz on the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome as a qualifier ranked No. one hundred and thirty fifth. Ten months later, Marozsan has grow to be a borderline Masters 1000 specialist. He’s an unbelievable 14-3 all time in the principle draw of Masters 1000s, together with 4-0 this fortnight with defeats of Aleksandar Kovacevic, Holger Rune, Alexei Popyrin, and Alex de Minaur.
Zverev can be in effective kind — his 17-5 document in 2024 features a semifinal exhibiting on the Aussie Open. The fifth-ranked German has superior in Miami with victories over Felix Auger-Aliassime, Chris Eubanks, and Karen Khachanov — all in comparatively convincing style. Marozsan simply misplaced to Khachanov 6-4, 7-5 final month in Doha, so what’s to say he’ll beat an identical type of opponent who simply destroyed Khachanov? Zverev ought to have the sting on Thursday.
Choose: Zverev in 2Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You may comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
