The 36th instalment of the Miami Open gets underway this week, as some of the leading male players from around the world compete at Miami Gardens for the right to walk away from the event as the winner. But, which player will reign supreme on the second leg of the Sunshine Double?
History Of The Event
Since being introduced in 1985, there have been some big names to have won the Miami Open throughout its history. Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras both dominated the event up until 2003. Agassi won six championships, while Sampras won on three occasions. As is the case with many of the biggest tennis events, since 2005, the Miami Open has been dominated by the big three. Roger Federer has won this event on four previous occasions, and is the reigning defending champion after having won the Miami Open back in 2019 in straight sets against John Isner.
Novak Djokovic has also achieved numerous successes at the Miami Open throughout his career, as he has won on six occasions. However, neither Djokovic or Federer will be in Miami for the event this time around. John Isner won the event in 2018, as he beat Alexander Zverev in the final. Andy Murray is another previous winner that will be in competition for the event this year. The Scot last won the Miami Open in 2013, which was his second success in the event.
Miami Open 2021 Front Runners
Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev will be front-runners for the event. Rublev has reached the semi-finals in each of his last two events. He was beaten by Roberto Bautista Agut in the Qatar Open, and fell to compatriot Aslan Karatsev in the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Meanwhile, Zverev is the third seed coming into this event, and the German will be in good confidence having won the Mexican Open in his last outing. Zverev saw off Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of that event in straight sets. Tsitsipas will be looking to bounce back from that defeat, and is also prominent in the betting.
There could be a couple of value picks in the BetXChange market too. Isner has an excellent record at this event, as he has reached the final in each of the last two. He lost to Federer in the final in 2019, but won back in 2018. Murray is also still fighting to get back to full fitness, and has previous success at the event.
Miami Open 2021 Prediction
Daniil Medvedev is the front-runner in the betting with BetXChange to win the Miami Open this year. The Russian comes into the event as the top seed in the field, and will enter in the second round of the event. Medvedev has enjoyed career-best performances in the Grand Slam events over the past year, as he most recently finished as the runner-up in the Australian Open.
He also won the ATP Finals back at the end of 2020, as he beat Dominic Theim in three sets. The Russian comes into this competition in good form, as he won the recent Open 13. He overcame Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the final of that event, and he will be difficult to see past at the Miami Open.
