Carlos Alcaraz vs Tommy Paul Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Miami

Prediction published on 27/03/2023, 10:37  by Steve Ashfield in Tennis Predictions

Top seeded Carlos Alcaraz remains on course to do the Indian Wells/Miami double. He takes on 16th seeded Tommy Paul in the fourth round of this outdoor hard court event. The winner will face either seventh seeded Holger Rune or ninth seed Taylor Fritz in the last eight. The pressure is on Alcaraz this week as he has to win the title to retain his number one ranking as he won this event last year. Failure to do so will see the absent Novak Djokovic regain top spot. Alcaraz didn't return from injury until mid-February but in three tournaments played since then, he's won two and lost one final. He won the Indian Wells title to return to the top of the rankings and is already third in the Live ATP Race based on ranking points earned this year. The Spaniard has played 17 matches this year and his only loss was to Cameron Norrie in the final of the Rio clay court tournament. He's had two straight sets wins in Miami only dropping eight games with two set won to love. 

Tommy Paul began this tournament ranked 19th which is just one place below his career high achieved last month. The American is back up to 18th in the live rankings but fifth in the Live ATP Race. That high ranking is due to his run to the last four in this year's Australian Open and being the losing finalist in Acapulco. Paul has reached at least the quarter finals in three tournaments this year. He didn't do that in Indian Wells though, losing to Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last 16. This Masters tournament has seen him beat unseeded Marc-Andrea Husler (after losing the first set) and 20th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. He's only had one previous meeting with Alcaraz and that was in Canada last year (also on a outdoor hard court) in three sets. Alcaraz looks in much the better form at present and can win this in straight sets.