ATP Miami Masters Preview: Alcaraz In First Big Title Defense; Medvedev, Sinner, Americans In Chase

Carlos Alcaraz will face his first big title defense this week at the Miami Masters. The defending champion rolls in, however, with a sparkling 14-1 mark on the season following his convincing triumph Sunday at Indian Wells.

The teen heads a strong field featuring 17 of the Top 20 (missing Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Pablo Carreno Busta) with Daniil Medvedev, former finalist Jannik Sinner and Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe among the favorites.

Top 16 seeds are: 1 Carlos Alcaraz, 2 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 3 Casper Ruud, 4 Daniil Medvedev, 5 Felix Auger Aliassime, 6 Andrey Rublev, 7 Holger Rune, 8 Hubert Hurkacz, 9 Taylor Fritz, 10 Jannik Sinner, 11 Cameron Norrie, 12 Frances Tiafoe, 13 Alexander Zverev, 14 Karen Khachanov, 15 Alex De Minaur, 16 Tommy Paul.

CARLOS ALCARAZ QUARTER
Seeds: 1 Alcaraz, 7 Rune, 9 Fritz, 16 Paul, 20 Davidovich Fokina, 24 Shapovalov, 30 Cressy, 31 Schwartzman
Floaters: Isner, Nakashima, Murray, Wu
Notable openers: Andy Murray-Dusan Lajovic, Emilio Nava-John Isner
Projected 3R matches: 1 Alcaraz – 30 Cressy, 20 Davidovich Fokina – 16 Paul, 9 Fritz – 24 Shapovalov, 31 Schwartzman – 7 Rune
Notes: Alcaraz could see his title defense face 2-time champion Andy Murray who’s been up to par this season, or the big-serving Maxime Cressy. The 19-year-old might see the improving Tommy Paul in the fourth round with either Taylor Fritz, Denis Shapovalov or Holger Rune in the quarters. Former winner John Isner is also in the section.

CASPER RUUD QUARTER
Seeds: 3 Ruud, 6 Rublev, 10 Sinner, 13 Zverev, 21 Dimitrov, 22 Bautista Agut, 26 Van De Zandschulp, 29 Kecmanovic
Floaters: Wolf, Bublik, Ruusuvuori, Ivashka, Fognini, Popyrin, Monfils
Notable openers: Alexander Bublik-JJ Wolf
Projected 3R matches: 3 Ruud – 26 Van De Zandschulp, 22 Bautista Agut – 13 Zverev, 10 Sinner – 21 Dimitrov, 29 Kecmanovic – 6 Rublev
Notes: 2021 finalist Jannik Sinner has to be the favorite here with Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev thereafter. But Casper Ruud, a finalist a year, has been struggling and now faces the pressure of losing all those ranking points. Sinner-Rublev fourth round could decide the semifinalist.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV QUARTER
Seeds: 4 Medvedev, 8 Hurkacz, 11 Norrie, 15 De Minaur, 17 Coric, 19 Berrettini, 28 Nishioka, 32 Shelton
Floaters: Mcdonald, Shang
Projected 3R matches: 8 Hurkacz – 32 Shelton, 17 Coric – 11 Norrie, 15 De Minaur – 19 Berrettini, 28 Nishioka – 4 Medvedev
Notes: A sneaky good section with the in-form Daniil Medvedev who comes in as the arguable No. 2 pick and then former champion Hubert Hurkacz and the steady Cameron Norrie. Alex De Minaur is playing well, Matteo Berrettini and Borna Coric are both dangerous and new star Ben Shelton figures to make some noise. Shelton could see Hurkacz in the third round but Medvedev has a nice road to the last four.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS QUARTER
Seeds: 2 Tsitsipas, 5 Auger Aliassime, 12 Tiafoe, 14 Khachanov, 18 Musetti, 23 Evans, 25 Cerundolo, 27 Baez
Floaters: Gasquet, Lehecka, Thiem
Projected 3R matches: 5 Auger Aliassime – 25 Cerundolo, 23 Evans – 12 Tiafoe, 14 Khachanov – 18 Musetti, 27 Baez – 2 Tsitsipas
Notes: An open quarter with lots of possibility. Felix Auger-Aliassime has played well in Miami making a semifinal, Frances Tiafoe just made his first Masters final four while Stefanos Tsitsipas has been struggling. Evans-Tiafoe with the winner going up against FAA looks good.

The projected R16s:
No. 1 Alcaraz – 16 Paul
No. 9 Fritz – 7 Rune
No. 3 Ruud – 13 Zverev
No. 10 Sinner – 6 Rublev
No. 8 Hurkacz – 11 Norrie
No. 15 De Minaur – 4 Medvedev
No. 5 Auger Aliassime – 12 Tiafoe
No. 14 seed Khachanov – 2 Tsitsipas

The projected quarterfinals: No. 1 Alcaraz is projected to meet 7 Rune, No. 3 Ruud – 6 Rublev, No. 8 Hurkacz – 4 Medvedev, and 5 seed Auger Aliassime – 2 Tsitsipas.

Former champions: Murray (2), Alcaraz, Isner, Hurkacz
Former finalists: Ruud, Zverev, Sinner

The men’s tournament begins on Wednesday.

Last year, Carlos Alcaraz made a stunning run to his first Masters title defeating Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-4.

LAST 10 MIAMI CHAMPIONS/FINALS
2022 Carlos Alcaraz d Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-4
2021 Hubert Hurkacz d Jannik Sinner 7-6(4), 6-4
2019 Roger Federer d John Isner 6-1, 6-4
2018 John Isner d Alexander Zverev 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4
2017 Roger Federer d Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-4
2016 Novak Djokovic d Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3
2015 Novak Djokovic d Andy Murray 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-0
2014 Novak Djokovic d Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-3
2013 Andy Murray d David Ferrer 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(1)
2012 Novak Djokovic d Andy Murray 6-1, 7-6(4)