This week the best players in the world converge on Miami, Florida, for the Miami Open. The event is sure to produce some of the best hard court tennis fans will witness all year. The Miami Open is an ATP and WTA 1000 level tournament, making it one of the most lucrative tournaments for players to participate in outside of a major.
Indian Wells Recap
Headlining last week’s action was carlos Alcaraz reclaiming the #1 world ATP ranking over Novak Djokovic. Djokovic was prevented from participating in the sunshine double because he is not vaccinated and unable to travel to the United States as a result.
On the WTA side of things, Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka to take home the Indian Wells title. On her incredible path to victory, Rybakina defeated world #1 Iga Swiatek, Paula Badosa, and finally #2 Aryna Sabalenka in the finals. It was a run the 23-year-old won’t soon forget and she will look to build on the result as she continues her truly breakout season.
Court Speed
Courts play slightly faster in Miami than Indian Wells, but for the most part the courts are considered moderately fast. The professional tours don’t come around to the quicker american hard courts until after the first few majors are played.
After such tournaments occur, the tours will travel back to North America for the remainder of the summer for the American summer hard court swing, ending at the U.S. Open in August and September.
ATP Odds to Win the Miami Open:
Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev
Based on form and play on hard courts over the past month, it is hard to argue against either Daniil Medvedev or Carlos Alcaraz as one of the two eventual champions of the tournament. Medvedev spoke extensively about how he felt uncomfortable on the courts at Indian Wells but should be able to find better success in Miami.
I think Alcaraz at +175 is a ludicrous number, but it would truthfully take a shocking defeat for “Carlito” not to make it to the final match of the tournament he is defending.
Hubert Hurkacz
Hubert Hurkacz is +2800 to win the Miami Open this year. Hurkacz was the champion in Miami in 2021 and was crowned the doubles champion with John Isner last year in Miami.
If Hurkacz is able to serve somewhere around 70% on his first serves, he should have a good chance to advance deep into the second week of the tournament.
