With the second masters 1000 event of the year fast approaching in Miami, Florida let’s have a look at some of this week’s ATP World Tour talking points:
- Can The Fed Express Keep Rolling- Roger Federer kept his sensational 2017 season going by winning the first masters event of the series in Indian Wells. It was an incredible week which included wins over the likes of Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka. He didn’t even drop a set. As Federer is Rolling back the years can he win back to back title in America? He has a decent draw here, with Juan Martin Del Potro providing an early obstacle in the third round. He has a good draw, can he go all the way?
- Can Rafa Overcome Nightmare Draw?- After his brutal battering last week in the desert by Roger Federer, Nadal will look to defeat the heat and overcome a nightmare draw in Miami this week. His draw includes Australian Open rematches with Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic. Can the Spaniard achieve Melbourne Deja vu?
- Can Nishikori Join The Elite? Kei Nishikori will look to go one step further than last year and join the elite when he plays in Miami this week. A 6-3 6-3 defeat to Novak Djokovic in last year’s proved a stepping stone for Nishikori’s brilliant 2016. Can he win his maiden masters event? The likes of Fernando Verdasco, Pablo Carreño Busta, Grigor Dimitrov, Milos Raonic and Rafael Nadal will hope to stop him in his path to join the elite.
Draw Prediction
Here is my prediction for the latter stages of the Miami Open:
Quarter-Finals
Alexander Zverev v Nick Kyrgios
Roger Federer v Dominic Thiem
Rafael Nadal v Milos Raonic
Lucas Pouille v Kei Nishikori
Semi-Finals
Nick Kyrgios v Roger Federer
Rafael Nadal v Kei Nishikori
Final
Nick Kyrgios v Kei Nishikori
Winner: Kei Nishikori
