Karen Khachanov vs Jiri Lehecka Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Miami

Prediction published on 27/03/2023, 01:57  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 27/03/2023 at 06:41 in Tennis Predictions

Fourteenth seed Karen Khachanov and world number 44 Jiri Lehecka will battle it out to reach the fourth round of the Miami Masters on Monday. The match will be played on an outdoor hard court and will see the winner set up a fourth-round showdown with either second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or the qualifier Cristian Garin. Khachanov has not been able to replicate the success of reaching the semifinals in Melbourne and apart from a lack of consistency, has rarely taken to the court since then. The world number 16 has played just four matches in the last two months and has won two and lost two. Khachanov had to overcome a three-set battle with Tomas Etcheverry to advance to this round. He has never gone past this round in six previous appearances.

This could be Jiri Lehecka’s year on account of how impressive he has been. The Czech number one started the season ranked 81st in the world but has since catapulted his way up the standings and prepares to serve off here as the 40th-ranked player in the live rankings. He made it through to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time just one year after making his Grand Slam debut and followed that up with a semifinal appearance in Doha. He has blown hot and cold since then but looks to have regained his composure here in his debut appearance in Miami as he is one of three unseeded players yet to have dropped a set. A win here will move him up to 36th in the live rankings which will be a new career high. The two players have never met before and that should make this an interesting battle