Casper Ruud vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Miami

Prediction published on 24/03/2024, 05:31  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 24/03/2024 at 06:32 in ATP Miami Predictions

Seventh seed Casper Ruud had to go to three sets in round two of the Miami Open. He'll be hoping for a smoother passage in the third round when taking on 27th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. For the winner there's a fourth round match against either 22nd seed Nicolas Jarry or qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild. Ruud took on unseeded Luis van Assche in his opening match in this outdoor hard court Masters 1000 event. He won the first set on a tie-break but then won just one game in the second. He got back in control and won the final set 6-1. Ruud has only got past the third round in Miami once, making it to the final in 2022. He's ranked eighth in the world and tenth in the Live ATP Race. He can go up to ninth on that list if winning this match. The 25-year-old is in good form at present having reached finals in Los Cabos and Acapulco and then the last 16 at Indian Wells.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina leads Ruud 2-1 in previous meetings. The most recent of those wins was recorded last year in Canada in a tight three-setter that had two tie-breaks. Fokina was ranked 28th at the start of this tournament but is only 45th in the Live ATP Race. In the second round of this tournament, the Spaniard beat Juncheng Shang in straight sets. He's in the second round for the second successive year in Miami but has never made it past this stage. He's reached two quarter finals this year in Marseille and Dubai but has only had one win this year over a top 50 ranked player. We tip Ruud to win this match.