For the second day in a row, Ash Barty plays a hard-hitting Belarusian. Yesterday she ousted Victoria Azarenka in three sets, and today she takes on Aryna Sabalenka, who on Monday allowed Marketa Vondrousova only three games. In the day’s other women’s quarterfinal, Elina Svitolina and Anastasija Sevastova look to reach their first semifinal in Miami.
But most of Tuesday’s schedule features men’s matches, as all of ATP round of 16 will take place. Three of the top four men’s seeds are still alive: Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Andrey Rublev.
Throughout this event, the women’s singles draw will be a day ahead of the men’s. On Tuesday, the women’s top half will compete in the quarterfinals, while the 16 remaining men play their fourth round matches.
Each day this preview will analyze the two most prominent matches, and note the other intriguing matchups on the day’s schedule. Tuesday’s play will begin at 11:00am local time.
Ash Barty (1) vs. Aryna Sabalenka (7) – Not before 1:00pm on Grandstand
Since losing in the third round of Roland Garros last October, Sabalenka has gone 23-4, with three consecutive titles. Meanwhile, Ash Barty is playing in only her fourth tournament since February of last year, though she’s impressively gone 11-2 this season despite nearly a full year without a competitive match. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 3-2, with all their matches contested on hard courts in either China or Australia. As good as Barty has been at pulling out wins when playing less than her best, it’s hard to favor her on Tuesday based on their head-to-head, and based on Sabalenka’s recent form on hard courts. And with this match scheduled during the hottest part of the day, Aryna’s power will only be amplified.
Daniil Medvedev (1) vs. Frances Tiafoe – Third on Grandstand
Tiafoe has been the at-night delight thus far in Miami. Three times last week during evening sessions, the 23-year-old American came back from a set down to prevail, and twice against top 20 seeds (Evans, Lajovic). But he can ill afford to fall behind again when facing the No.1 seed, who has won 26 of his last 28 matches. And Tiafoe is 0-3 against Medvedev at tour level. All three of those matches were on hard courts, with the Russian No.1 claiming eight of nine sets. In their most recent match, at last year’s US Open, Tiafoe managed to secure only five games across three sets. Daniil’s defensive skills have smothered Frances in their meetings. Despite Medvedev literally limping across the finish line on Sunday, as he battled cramps while closing out Alexei Popyrin 6-4 in the third, Daniil remains the favorite to reach the quarterfinals in Miami for the first time.
Other Notable Matches on Tuesday:
Roberto Bautista Agut (7) vs. John Isner (18) – Isner has claimed three of their four previous meetings, which includes a victory two years ago at this event.
Andrey Rublev (4) vs. Marin Cilic – Rublev is on a 39-7 tear, and prevailed in both of his prior hard court encounters with Cilic.
Elina Svitolina (5) vs. Anastasija Sevastova – They have split two hard court clashes over the last few seasons, with both going three sets.
Diego Schwartzman (5) vs. Sebastian Korda – The 20-year-old American has reached the round of 16 in just his second Masters 1,000 event. Schwartzman is only 5-5 lifetime in Miami.
Jannik Sinner (21) vs. Emil Ruusuvuori – These are two of the ATP’s most impressive young ball strikers. Last year at a Challenger event, Russuvuori defeated Sinner in straight sets.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (2) vs. Lorenzo Sonego (24) – This will be their first career meeting. Tsitsipas is 16-4 thus far this year. 25-year-old Sonego was the runner-up last fall in Vienna.
Tuesday’s full Order of Play is here.
