Federico Coria vs Jiri Lehecka Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Miami

Prediction published on 22/03/2023, 12:34  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 22/03/2023 at 13:35 in Tennis Predictions

Jiri Lehecka bids to get his year back on track with a win over Federico Coria in the Miami Masters first round. The winner of this match takes on 18th seeded Lorenzo Musetti in round two. Lehecka began this tournament ranked 44th a rise of 37 places since the start of the year. That's impressive but he was as high as 37th last month. His rise up the rankings has been because of hs run to the quarter finals of the Australian Open where his defeated opponents included Cameron Norrie and Felix Auger-Aliassime. That was followed by his reaching the last four in Doha and he so nearly beat Andy Murray in his semi-final. Since then however he's struggled and arrives in Miami having lost four of his last five matches. Getting some wins this week will be much appreciated.

Federico Coria is 67th in the latest ranking list. He's also had mixed results this year and was a career high 49th in February. The Argentinian had a disastrous start to the new year with just one win in his first six matches. Those were all played on hard courts but his form suddenly picked up when returning to his favoured clay court surface. He had a good run of form in South American tournaments and won a Challenger Tour event held in Concepcion, Chile. Back on the ATP Tour he got to the final in Cordoba but back on hard courts his form has again dipped. The 31-year-old lost to fellow Argentian Diego Schwartzman in the first round at Indian Wells and he only won three games. Go for Lehecka to win this in straight sets.