Top-seed Roger Federer was the biggest casualty at the Miami Masters 1000 Series at Crandon Park over the weekend when he lost to world number 175 Kokkinakis from a set-up, 3-6 6-3 7-6. The defeat means Federer will lose the number one ranking to Nadal on April second because he failed to defend the 1000 ranking points gained for winning the 2017 title. Federer, has also confirmed he will by-pass the European clay court swing and return for the grass swing. There were plenty of other upsets over the weekend including seventh-seed Goffin (advised 33/1) who could only muster one game against the unseeded Sousa, ninth-seed Djokovic lost tamely in straight sets against the unseeded Paire and twelfth-seed Bautista Agut was upset by American qualifier and NextGen potential star Mmoh.
British number one and twenty-first seed Kyle Edmunds had plenty of chances to win his opener against the talented American NextGen star Tiafoe, but the young American hung in their and eventually wore Edmunds down in the deciding tie-break. Veteran Youzhny ousted fellow veteran and twenty-third seed Muller, another veteran Lopez seeded twenty-five lost his opener against American NextGen star Donaldson and twenty-seventh seed Rublev’s disappointing season continued at Miami when he lost his opening match against the unseeded Pospisil.
At the time of writing second seed Cilic (advised 20/1) and Indian Wells champion and fifth seed Del Potro were through to the fourth round after knocking out Pospisil and Nishikori respectively. Nineteenth seed Chung and twenty-second seed Krajinovic are also through to the fourth round, as is the unseeded Sousa from Portugal, and Chung was particularly impressive dispatching the talent American NextGen potential star Mmoh 6-1 6-1. Third seed Dimitrov, thirteenth seed Schwartzman, fourteenth seed Isner and twentieth seed Raonic (advised 13/2 Third Quarter winner) where are still due to play at the time of writing.
Tonight’s remaining third-round action see’s fourth seed Zverev take on veteran Ferrer, who has been solid so far this season and he leads the head-to-head 2-1. Sixth seed Anderson is continuing his impressive hard-court form, but he faces a tough test against the talented young Russian Khachanov, who has the power game to match Anderson. Eighth seed Sock faces Indian Wells semi-finalist Coric (advised 14/1 Second Quarter winner), who is seeded twenty-nine, for the third time and the head-to-head stands at one all so this is a tough match to call. Other matches that have the potential to produce plenty of high quality tennis today are eleventh seed Querrey against NextGen star Shapovalov, seventeenth seed Kyrgios against fifteenth seed and 2017 semi-finalist Fognini and finally two players who both have explosive tennis games and are sure to entertain tonight are qualifier and Roger Federer’s conqueror Kokkinakis faces experienced veteran and thirty-first seed Verdasco.
