Grigor Dimitrov and Brandon Nakashima look to reap the benefits of a wide-open part of the Miami draw with a shot on the spherical of 16. Casper Ruud and Francisco Cerundolo are additionally in motion on Tuesday.
(14) Grigor Dimitrov vs. (31) Brandon Nakashima
This is a wonderful alternative for the gamers on this part of the Miami Open draw. This was Carlos Alcaraz’s quarter, however the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion crashed out in his first match towards David Goffin. Enter Grigor Dimitrov and Brandon Nakashima, who will face both Casper Ruud or Francisco Cerundolo within the fourth spherical.
Dimitrov and Nakashima haven’t performed one another since 2022; they break up their two earlier matches with one win every. Each males come into this event off spherical of 16 showings in Indian Wells, though Dimitrov was dismantled by Alcaraz at that stage. Dimitrov had a decent second-round match towards Karen Khachaov, whereas Nakashima earned his spot within the third spherical with a victory over Alcaraz vanquisher Goffin. That is one other match that has the possibility to be a shock barnburner. Dimitrov in all probability has the sting, as he has extra expertise on massive phases, but it surely’s not a slam dunk for the Bulgarian. Nakashima will likely be enjoying in entrance of the house crowd, and each males will likely be properly conscious that the winner can have possibilities on the quarters.
(5) Casper Ruud vs. (23) Francisco CerundoloRuud and Cerundolo will likely be squaring off for the eighth time of their careers on Tuesday. Cerundolo leads the head-to-head collection 4-3 and has gained their final two assembly on onerous courts, albeit each indoors. Whereas each gamers are at their finest on clay, Cerundolo would undoubtedly choose to face Ruud on a tough court docket. In consequence, this can be a nice alternative for the Argentine–particularly given how properly he’s enjoying proper now. Cerundolo has already gained 15 matches in 2025 after beating Tommy Paul 6-2, 7-6(4) on Sunday. And it was no fluke; the world No. 24 was by far the higher play from begin to end despite the fact that the second set was aggressive.
Other than reaching the ultimate at an unspectacular ATP 500 in Dallas (the place he didn’t defeat anybody ranked excessive than No. 64), Ruud has not finished a lot this season. Miami wins over Miomir Kecmanovic and Alejandro Tabilo have been first rate however nothing particular. This match will likely be on Cerundolo’s racket, which isn’t all the time excellent news for him as a result of he can typically go for an excessive amount of and go off the rails. In the mean time, although, all the pieces is clicking for the twenty third seed.
Choose: Cerundolo in 2
