Tennis News

Thursday Preview: Musetti, Korda & Kokkinakis Begin Miami Campaigns

Three #NextGenATP stars — Lorenzo Musetti, Sebastian Korda and Thiago Seyboth Wild — start their campaigns at the Miami Open presented by Itau on Thursday, when there will be 16 singles and four doubles matches. Thanasi Kokkinakis will also make his first appearance at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament in almost three years (2018 Monte-Carlo).

Musetti, the charismatic 19-year-old, who broke into the Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings for the first time on Monday, makes his Miami debut against American wild card Michael Mmoh in the final match on Butch Buchholz court.

The Italian made a big impression at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in October last year, qualifying for the Rome tournament and beating Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori en route to the third round. Last week, as a qualifier at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, Musetti beat Diego Schwartzman, Frances Tiafoe and Grigor Dimitrov before falling to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Acapulco semi-finals.

World No. 87 Korda will start his fourth ATP Masters 1000 tournament appearance full of confidence, having advanced to his first ATP Tour final in January at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com (l. to Hurkacz). The American, who is the son of Petr Korda, went on to capture his second ATP Challenger Tour title at Quimper (d. Horansky). Only 10 spots separate the 20-year-old from his first-round opponent in Miami, World No. 77 and 2019 Delray Beach titlist Radu Albot of Moldova. They will contest the 7pm night session match on Grandstand.

Seyboth Wild, who clinched his first ATP Tour title at the Chile Dove Men+Care Open in Santiago (d. Ruud) last year, makes his Masters 1000 debut against Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan in the fourth match on Court 4.

Tennis fans can also look forward to watching Australia’s Kokkinakis, who won the hearts of many new fans at last month’s Australian Open when he took Tsitsipas to five sets in Melbourne. The 24-year-old, who is continuing his comeback after a series of injuries in recent years, takes on fellow qualifier and 17-year-old Shintaro Mochizuki of Japan in the first match on Butch Butchholz court.

Also on the second show court, former World No. 3 and 2016 Cincinnati titlist Marin Cilic, who is one of seven former Masters 1000 champions in the Miami draw, meets Guillermo Coria’s brother, Federico Coria of Argentina, while South Africa’s Kevin Anderson also challenges Thiago Monteiro of Brazil.

Doubles play gets underway on day two with Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev facing sixth seeds Wesley Koolhof and Lukasz Kubot. Third seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, and Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz also feature on the schedule.

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SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, 25 MARCH 2021

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am
WTA MATCH
[Q] B. Fratangelo (USA) vs F. Verdasco (ESP)

Not Before 3:00 pm
WTA MATCH

Not Before 7:00 pm
S. Korda (USA) vs R. Albot (MDA)

BUTCH BUCHHOLZ start 11:00 am
[Q] S. Mochizuki (JPN) vs [Q] T. Kokkinakis (AUS)
J. Chardy (FRA) vs D. Kudla (USA)
M. Cilic (CRO) vs F. Coria (ARG)
[PR] K. Anderson (RSA) vs T. Monteiro (BRA)
[WC] M. Mmoh (USA) vs L. Musetti (ITA)

COURT 2 start 11:00 am
[WC] J. Draper (GBR) vs M. Kukushkin (KAZ)
J. Thompson (AUS) vs F. Delbonis (ARG)
M. Kecmanovic (SRB) vs [Q] L. Broady (GBR)
P. Martinez (ESP) vs T. Sandgren (USA)
C. O’Connell (AUS) vs J. Sousa (POR)

COURT 4 start 11:00 am
S. Kwon (KOR) vs I. Ivashka (BLR)
S. Caruso (ITA) vs Y. Uchiyama (JPN)
F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN) / H. Hurkacz (POL) vs S. Gille (BEL) / J. Vliegen (BEL)
D. Galan (COL) vs [Q] T. Seyboth Wild (BRA)
A. Bedene (SLO) vs [Q] T. Fabbiano (ITA)

COURT 6 start 11:00 am
T. Fritz (USA) / J. Isner (USA) vs A. Bublik (KAZ) / A. Mannarino (FRA)
T. Puetz (GER) / A. Zverev (GER) vs [3] M. Granollers (ESP) / H. Zeballos (ARG)
K. Khachanov (RUS) / A. Rublev (RUS) vs [6] W. Koolhof (NED) / L. Kubot (POL)

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Vasek Pospisil apologies for expletive-filled rant at ATP chairman at Miami Open

Vasek Pospisil apologises for an expletive-filled rant in a match at the Miami Open, during which he threatened to sue tennis organisers.

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Johanna Konta among tennis players back at school to study business

Johanna Konta is among the players juggling a business studies course with a tennis career.

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Tiafoe Passes Travaglia Test Under Miami Lights

Frances Tiafoe was down a set and a break to Stefano Travaglia, but he came roaring back on Wednesday to reach the second round at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

The American had to dig deep to turn around the match against Travaglia, saving five of seven break points faced – including four in the second set that would have had the Italian serving for the match. Tiafoe fired 26 winners en route to a battling 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory.

Tiafoe was the primary aggressor in the opening set, but the Italian escaped after saving three break points across two service games. Travaglia claimed a late break of serve at 6/5, and powered his way to a 2-0 lead in the second set. 

The 23-year-old American did well to break straight back to love, and served his way out of trouble as he settled into the contest. Tiafoe saved three break points with three big first serves in the second set to keep them on serve at 4-4, and sent them into a decider with a late break of his own. He was in full flight in the final set and Tiafoe reeled off the last five games in a row to seal his spot in the second round. 

Tiafoe, a quarter-finalist here in 2019, will face No. 19 seed Daniel Evans next – in both singles and doubles. Tiafoe is partnering with Nicholas Monroe and Evans with Neal Skupski for their first-round clash in doubles, while Tiafoe and Evans will fight for a spot in the third round in singles on Friday. 

Also in action, Americans Ernesto Escobedo and Marcos Giron booked their spots in the second round with straight-sets victories. Escobedo claimed an all-qualifier contest against Paolo Lorenzi of Italy 6-3, 6-2, while Giron edged past Tommy Paul 7-6(5), 6-4. 

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Ruusuvuori Contains 17-Year-Old Alcaraz In Miami Clash

Emil Ruusuvuori stayed cool and weathered a stern test from 17-year-old Carlos Alcaraz to triumph 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 in a first-round battle on Wednesday. 

Making his debut at the Miami Open presented by Itau, 21-year-old Ruusuvuori fired 16 winners and broke Alcaraz’s serve three times to power into the second round. He will take on third seed Alexander Zverev next.

“It was decided by very few points, it was a very small difference [between us] today,” Ruusuvuori said. “In the end, he had a chance in the third, we both had our chances. But I was able to come back and somehow get the win. But it was a very difficult match. He was playing very well, and I’m just happy to get through.”

The Finnish player was competing in ITF events during the most recent edition of this Miami tournament in 2019, but has been steadily rising up the FedEx ATP Rankings to sit at a career-high No. 83. 

Ruusuvuori kept big-hitting Alcaraz contained to only two winners in the opening set as he took the ball early and beat his opponent from the baseline. He wasted no time to take control of the set with an early break at 2-1, but the Spanish wild card roared back in the second set with two breaks of his own. 

Alcaraz surged in front with a 3-1 lead in the tightly-contested decider, but Ruusuvuori stayed calm and levelled the score with an emphatic break to love. He broke through once more late in the set to take a 6-5 lead, and closed out the victory after two hours and 13 minutes.

“He’s very young and very talented. A very good player [that] I’m sure we’re going to hear about a lot,” Ruusuvuori said. “So much power already at that age, he can do some serious damage. But somehow today I got the win.”

Elsewhere, qualifier Mackenzie McDonald set up an all-American second-round clash with No. 18 seed John Isner after a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Vasek Pospisil. Mikael Ymer also cruised past Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 6-1 to book a meeting with No. 27 seed Nikoloz Basilashvili.

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Take The Miami Champions Challenge

Can you pass the Champions Challenge for the Miami Open presented by Itau?

Since 2000, eight different players have won the title at this ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament. Let’s see how many you remember! 

Take the Challenge and share your results.

Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev headline the 2021 Miami Open presented by Itau. Medvedev and Zverev, who feature in the top half of the draw, are both looking to win a fourth ATP Masters 1000 title.

Click here to stay informed all year with tennis news from the ATP Tour.

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Harris Earns First ATP Masters 1000 Win

Lloyd Harris earned his maiden ATP Masters 1000 victory on Wednesday with a 6-4, 7-6(7) win against American qualifier Emilio Nava at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

The South African saved a set point at 6/7 in the second-set tie-break en route to a one-hour, 32-minute victory. Harris improved to 9-5 this season with his milestone win against the two-time junior Grand Slam runner-up.

“It was a very difficult match,” said Harris. “He is a very tough player. He is a very slow player, so the balls are really slow and the pace of the match is really slow. He does have an unbelievable serve, so when I had chances to break, I was putting all my effort and all my focus onto those break points… Overall, I am happy with the way I was mentally during the match. There were a couple of shaky moments here and there, and I hung in mentally and came out with the win.”

Last week, the World No. 52 made a remarkable run to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final (l. to Karatsev). From qualifying, Harris claimed seven wins in seven days to reach his maiden ATP 500 final. The 24-year-old earned the two biggest wins of his career en route to the championship match against World No. 4 Dominic Thiem and then-World No. 12 Denis Shapovalov.

Harris will face 2019 quarter-finalist Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round. The Spaniard owns a 10-8 record in Miami, which includes a win against six-time tournament champion Novak Djokovic in the fourth round in 2019.

In his first Miami appearance since his debut in 2015, James Duckworth battled past Mischa Zverev 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to return to the second round. The Australian recovered from a break down in the decider and earned his sixth break of the match in a dramatic final game to clinch his victory. Duckworth will face eighth seed David Goffin in his next match.

Ricardas Berankis converted all four break points he created to defeat lucky loser Federico Gaio of Italy 7-6(4), 6-2. The Lithuanian will meet 31st seed Jan-Lennard Struff for a spot in the third round.

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How Isner Is Serving Aces & Touchdown Passes In Miami

For 2018 champion John Isner, the best part of the Miami Open presented by Itau experience has levelled up as the ATP Masters 1000 event returned to its home at Hard Rock Stadium.

A diehard fan of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, the American will be hitting the court at the home of the Miami Dolphins – where the players have the entire football field to themselves during the 2021 edition.

“It’s pretty cool to go out there and throw the football around and run some routes and just pretend like you’re playing in the NFL,” Isner laughed in his pre-tournament press conference. “I’m usually the quarterback, because I’m slow. [I play with] Sam Querrey, Stevie Johnson, mostly the American guys.” 

Isner was the last champion to be crowned in Key Biscayne, marking an end to the tournament’s 32-year run at Crandon Park. He reached the final again a year later at the Hard Rock Stadium, where he fell to Roger Federer in a centre court built within the cavernous venue. 

This year, due to limited fan attendance as a result of health and safety protocols, the Grandstand will be the main court while the football field and areas inside Hard Rock Stadium have been set aside for the players to make full use.

“To be on the field to warm up was incredible,” Isner said. “And it’s even more so this year, because as we all know the big centre court is not built into the stadium right now. So the whole football field is ours. 

“We have lots of room and lots of fun things to do. The players are all happy to be here, and it’s just good to be back in Miami, one of the mainstays of the ATP and WTA Tours. We all missed it last year.”

No. 16 seed Isner will kick off his Miami campaign against either Vasek Pospisil or qualifier Mackenzie McDonald in the second round. He will be searching for positive momentum at his third tournament of the year.

The American won his opening matches at the Delray Beach Open by Vitacost.com – one hour’s drive north of Miami – and at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in Acapulco. But Isner bowed out in both of his next matches, earning a 2-2 record on the year. Isner arrived in Miami looking to win back-to-back matches for the first time since August 2020 at Western & Southern Open in New York.

“I actually feel alright. I was able to play Acapulco last week and play a couple matches. One was good and one not so good,” Isner said of his preparation. “To be able to get a couple matches before this tournament under my belt was pretty crucial, because I haven’t played that much in the past year.

“Hopefully I can get this tournament started and try to create some momentum for myself and see what I can do. Physically I’m healthy, mentally I feel pretty fresh. I’ll just need to try to get off to a good start and see what I can do from there.”

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Former Junior No. 1 Mochizuki Draws On Federer Advice To Qualify In Miami

One pertinent piece of advice from Roger Federer sticks with #NextGenATP teenager Shintaro Mochizuki whenever he takes the court at this week’s Miami Open presented by Itau. On Tuesday, the Japanese 17-year-old defied a 486-place gap in the FedEx ATP Rankings to book his appearance in his maiden ATP Masters 1000 main draw.

The World No. 654 took down Ecuadorian Emilo Gomez 6-1, 6-2 in the final round of qualifying to set a first-round showdown with fellow qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis. It was a career-best win for the former junior World No. 1, made all the more impressive given he required a wild card just to enter qualifying.

His idol, Federer, was so impressed by Mochizuki’s run to the 2019 junior Wimbledon title that he asked the young Japanese player to be his hitting partner at the Nitto ATP Finals later that year. That is where his belief that he belonged was solidified.

“He’s my hero. At the Nitto ATP Finals, I was there as a hitting partner and I got to hit with him,” Mochizuki said. “It was a dream. In tennis he hits so easy, just relaxed when he’s playing. 

“Many people are just playing with the power and emotions, but he’s just hitting balls so easy. He taught me that if you have any chances to play bigger events, just go for it. 

“Even this tournament, I had a wild card. I’m still like No. 600, I’m not even close to getting into qualies and I had a chance to play, so I just came to play.” 

The teenager, who hails from Kawasaki, Japan, made his ATP Tour debut only last month at the Singapore Tennis Open, where he made a swift exit at the first hurdle against Turkey’s Altug Celikbilek. While not the debut he had hoped for, it went a long way to helping his qualifying campaign in Miami.

“Actually, [it helped] a lot because that was my first ATP tournament of my life and I was so nervous and I couldn’t even play my tennis, especially in the first set,” he said. “But this is my second tournament, and I’m getting used to it. I’m enjoying playing on the tour.”

Besides Federer, Mochizuki has understandably idolised his countryman, Kei Nishikori. Much like the most decorated Japanese male player before him, his tennis journey shares a couple of parallels.

“I came from Japan when I was 12, 13 years old. I came to the IMG Academy and started training,” Mochizuki said. “It was fun playing with people from other countries. It’s different to just playing in Japan.”

Mochizuki added that from time he has spent practising with the former top five star, he has learned how much of a “chilled person” Nishikori is.

“He of course works hard, but he talks to me a lot during breaks,” Mochizuki said. “In a real match watching him on TV, he’s so serious, focused and everything. On and off he’s so good at it.” 

One of Nishikori’s coaches is former doubles World No. 1 Max Mirnyi, who is also a product of the IMG Academy. The Belarusian finds the young Japanese player’s game intriguing, and it reminds him of retired French star Fabrice Santoro.

“Fabrice is a player who really utilised the power of the oncoming ball to him and also was very crafty with his hands,” Mirnyi said. “Just like Fabrice was fun to watch, Shintaro is one of them.

“He sees the court extremely in a different dimension. He uses the angles well, cuts them off well and likes to come into the net. He takes the ball early and he’s got good feel with his hands.”

Off the court, Mirnyi had plenty of nice things to say about Mochizuki.

“He’s a very friendly, outgoing guy off the court and doesn’t take anything for granted,” Mirnyi said. “I think he’s got a bright future ahead of him.”

Mochizuki said he spoke no English when he first moved to train in the US and while he attended school at the academy, other Japanese players on site helped him adjust. Outside the grind of school and training, however, another great passion has helped him throughout.

“On weekends I play baseball with my friends at the academy,” he said. “I still love playing it and watching it. I’m not trying to be a professional baseball player, though, just for fun.”

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My Masters 1000: Karen Khachanov

Seven years ago, Karen Khachanov made his ATP Masters 1000 debut at the Miami Open presented by Itau when he was No. 453 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. The Russian returns this year to make his fifth appearance at the Florida event, where he will aim to improve on his 8-4 start to the 2021 ATP Tour season.

Ahead of the tournament, the 2018 Rolex Paris Masters champion spoke to ATPTour.com about his favourite Masters 1000 events and experiences.

Which ATP Masters 1000 host city is your favourite and why?
I would say there are two of them. Paris is a place where I won my Masters 1000 and I have said many times I love to play in France. The atmosphere and energy I get there is amazing and tough to express with words. You feel really pumped there. I would say the other one that I like so much is Madrid. The tournament and the city is really nice.

What is your favourite off-court memory or activity at a Masters 1000?
It depends on the place and the city where I am. In Madrid, Monte Carlo and Rome, you can have a nice walk, you can visit some places, museums and theatres. In general, just to have a walk with your wife or with the team [and] to have a relaxed afternoon is great.

What is the toughest match you’ve played at a Masters 1000?
It was in Paris against John Isner [in 2018]. It was in the third round to play [for a place in the] quarter-finals. I won 6-4, 6-7, 7-6. Both of us saved match points… Emotionally, it was one of the toughest matches of my breakthrough in that tournament.

What is the toughest aspect of playing at a Masters 1000?
The higher [the category of] tournament you are playing, maybe you want to do better. Expectations are higher [and] there is more pressure. I would say my approach is that every match counts. It doesn’t matter if you are playing an ATP 250, ATP 500, Grand Slam or Masters 1000. For me, it is one of the biggest events and obviously I try to do my best in every match.

What is your dream Masters 1000 match?
I would have liked to have played Marat [Safin] in Paris. He won there three times. It was his favourite place and mine too. It would have been a good scenario to have played against him.

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