If someone told you that a player who lost his first match at the BNP Paribas Open and another who had two wins on the season entering the Miami Open presented by Itau would meet for the Miami title on Sunday, would you have believed them? Probably not.

But Alexander Zverev and John Isner have earned their places in the championship match at the second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the year, and one of them will leave Crandon Park having made a major statement in the tournament’s last match at the facility.

View FedEx ATP Head2Head for the following matches from the 2018 Miami Open presented by Itaú & vote for who you think will win! 
Zverev vs Isner

Zverev had not had a bad season by any means, arriving in Florida with an 8-4 record. But three of the German’s four losses came against players outside of the Top 50 in the ATP Rankings. For someone who won five ATP World Tour titles — including two Masters 1000 trophies (Rome, Montreal) — last season, it was not the most inspiring start to the year.

But after surviving a third-set tie-break in the second round against Sydney champion Daniil Medvedev, Zverev has found some of his best tennis. He had to in his next match against former World No. 3 David Ferrer, who played at an extremely high level to take the first set before the German’s game became too overwhelming. Zverev has not lost a set since, ousting No. 17 Nick Kyrgios, Indian Wells semi-finalist Borna Coric and No. 16 Pablo Carreno Busta.

“I think I’m playing okay. I’m playing well now,” Zverev said. “Hopefully I can continue so in the final, and we’ll see how that goes.”

Across the net will be a familiar face in Isner. The American, who is into his fourth Masters 1000 final (0-3), has lost all three of his FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings against Zverev, including a Round of 16 heartbreaker against him last year. Isner was unable to convert on three match points in a three tie-break thriller against the current World No. 5, who Isner called after his semi-final “the best young player this game has”.

But the 32-year-old has played by far his best tennis of the year on Key Biscayne. From the Round of 16 on, he beat World No. 2 Marin Cilic, reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Hyeon Chung and BNP Paribas Open champion Juan Martin del Potro — arguably the favourite in Miami — all in straight sets while facing just one break point (against Chung, which he saved).

“With my game, if I’m doing the right things, it doesn’t really matter who I’m playing,” said Isner, who won the Indian Wells doubles title with Jack Sock. “I’m going to be very tough to beat.”

The key to the match will likely be Zverev’s second serve. Against Del Potro, Isner made it clear from the first ball that for better or for worse he was going to go after almost every one of the Argentine’s second deliveries, and it paid dividends. In 2017, the American won 41 per cent of second-serve return points, according to Infosys ATP Scores & Stats, but he won 45 per cent of those points against the most in-form player on the ATP World Tour on Friday.

In Isner’s and Zverev’s three previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, Isner won just 39 per cent of second-serve return points against Zverev, while the German won 49 per cent of those points against arguably the best server in the sport. Entering Miami, Isner was third all-time in having won 56 per cent of his second-serve points. 

The German will have to avoid letting the World No. 17 take the first cut at the ball in rallies and will need to elongate points as much as he can and keep Isner on the defencive, behind the baseline. If the 20-year-old can control the pace of play, a third Masters 1000 title may very well be within his reach. But if he allows the match to slip to Isner’s racquet, forehands may zoom by him like they did Del Potro. And while he has beaten the American three times, he will not be looking to his past success on Sunday. 

Watch Semi-final Highlights:

“It’s going to be a completely different match. I think he’s going to hit a lot of aces, a lot of winners,” Zverev said. “But I’m ready for it, and hopefully it will be another great one.”

For Isner, it will be a successful tournament regardless of the result, as he will break back into the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings on Monday for the first time since May 2014 despite winning just two matches this year prior to Miami. But he hopes to complete his massive turnaround in form to claim his maiden Masters 1000 title after losing to Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in his first three finals at this level.

“If I’m not playing too confidently out there and not doing the right things on the court, I can be beaten by anybody, as well,” Isner said. “It’s been a very streaky year so far, but I’m very happy to be on the good side of that streak right now.”

For the most successful doubles team in history, an eight-month period without lifting a trophy is akin to an extended title drought. But Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan have the opportunity Saturday to snap that unwanted streak in the final of the Miami Open presented by Itau against Russian youngsters Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev.

The Bryan brothers, who turn 40 next month, are going for their 37th Masters 1000 title as a team. Saturday marks their 56th ATP Masters 1000 final and third straight final after runner-up finishes at Acapulco (l. to Murray/Soares) and Indian Wells (l. to Isner/Sock).

They’ve won 114 tour-level championships but the Bryans are seeking their first title since lifting the BB&T Atlanta Open trophy in July 2017 (d. Wesley Koolhof and Artem Sitak). In the previous round, the brothers ousted Australian Open semi-finalists Ben McLachlan and Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5, 6-4. The twins have finished No. 1 in the ATP Doubles Team Rankings 10 times (2003, 2005-07, 2009-14).

The young Russians, meanwhile, are better known for their work in singles action. The 20-year-old Rublev opened his 2018 campaign with a runner-up finish in Doha (d. Monfils), while the 21-year-old Khachanov claimed the Marseille title last month (d. Pouille). Prior to this week, their best result as a team was a third-round finish at the 2017 US Open (l. to Roger-Vasselin/Benneteau). 

Make no mistake, however: The young Russians’ inexperience as a doubles duo hasn’t meant much this week in Miami. They saved a match point in the first round against Fabrice Martin and Franko Skugor, winning 6-7(3), 6-3, 15-13, then eliminated sixth seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares. From there, they disposed of No. 3 seeds and Australian Open champions Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic in the quarter-finals and then needed only 44 minutes to dismiss Americans Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey, 6-3, 6-1 to book their place in the final.

Watch the doubles final live on TennisTV.com, not before 3pm ET Sunday

The German wunderkind does it again.

Alexander Zverev reached his third ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final with a 7-6(4), 6-2 victory over Pablo Carreno Busta in the semi-finals of the Miami Open presented by Itau. The 20-year-old produced his finest tennis of the season to surge past his Spanish opponent in 1 hour, 28 minutes.

Zverev, who last season became the youngest player since Novak Djokovic to win multiple ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles in one season after triumphs in Rome and Montreal, looked comfortable in the cool night conditions on Crandon Park’s Stadium court, striking 30 winners to 21 unforced errors. 

 Watch Full Match Replays

The German was dominant on serve, crushing 10 aces and winning a total of 78 per cent of service points in the match. Although Carreno Busta held his own on serve in the first set, he was unable to keep with Zverev’s relentless pressure on return and surrendered two breaks of serve in the match, both coming in the second set. 

The first set was tightly contested, with both players trying to wrestle control of points from their preferred positions on the baseline. While Carreno Busta grinded away from the back of the court, looking to control points with his forehand when the opportunity arose, Zverev ruthlessly attacked with his backhand, pushing the 26-year-old Spaniard back and opening the court for a barrage of winners.

The two contested a high-quality first set tie-break, with early momentum swinging Carreno Busta’s way, as he surged ahead 3/0 with an early mini-break. Zverev, however, raised his level to reclaim control, hitting a series of hot-shot backhands to eventually claim it in just under an hour. From there, it was smooth sailing for the World No. 5, who closed out victory with a service game to love, sealed with an ace.

“I tried to be more aggressive. I made some winners; made some backhand winners finally in the match and found my rhythm,” said Zverev, reflecting on the tie-break. “I think after that, I started to play really well, not only in the tie-break but also the second set.

After a slow start to 2018, Zverev appears to be rounding into form. The final in Miami Open is his first of the season and first since winning the Rogers Cup title in Montreal in 2017. The win will see him rise to at least No. 4 in the ATP Rankings next week; should he win the title, he’ll return to his career-high ranking of No. 3, achieved last November. 

“I’m happy where I am right now, and hopefully it will be another great match here and then I can go to the clay court season,” said the German.

Zverev will face American John Isner, who overcame Juan Martin del Potro in two sets earlier in the day, in the final.

Sunshine, sand and scenery. The Spanish resort town of Marbella has long been the playground of Europe’s rich and famous, boasting miles of pristine beaches and perfect weather.

This week, the beachfront mecca welcomes a new chapter of tennis on the ATP Challenger Tour. Situated along the Costa del Sol on the southern edge of Spain, Marbella hosts the inaugural Casino Admiral Trophy, a €43,000 event.

With the tranquility of the Mediterranean Sea just steps away, players have descended on the Club de Tenis Puente Romano for the second time. Six years ago, a Challenger was held in the same club and now it has returned with a new identity and an eye on the future.

As Spain’s longtime stalwarts continue to compete into their 30s, the proud European nation is looking towards the Next Generation of stars that will fly the flag in the years to come. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, junior Wimbledon champion in 2017, earned his first match win this year on the ATP Challenger Tour after being awarded a main draw wild card. The 18-year-old is hoping to gain experience on the circuit as he begins his ascent up the ATP Rankings.

“It’s great to play at home, with all my friends and family here,” Davidovich Fokina told ATPWorldTour.com. “It’s just great to have a wild card at a Challenger like this and a thrill to play here.

“The level here is very high and the players are very good. There are Top 100 guys here and no easy matches. You have to suffer on the court to win. It’s a tough event, but an important one for me.”

Davidovich Fokina, who hails from nearby Malaga, is projected to make his Top 400 debut after claiming a first-round upset of Norbert Gombos, before falling to Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti. He was competing in just his fourth tournament on the ATP Challenger Tour.

With fellow #NextGenATP Spaniards Nicola Kuhn, Jaume Munar and Carlos Taberner also surging ahead, the nation has much to look forward to. Munar qualified for his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January, while Taberner and Kuhn recently won their ATP World Tour debuts, in Montpellier and Miami, respectively.

Similar to Kuhn, who has a German father and Russian mother, Davidovich Fokina also owns a multi-cultural background, with a Swedish father and Russian mother. 

Another 18-year-old making strides in Marbella is Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. Also a junior Grand Slam champion in 2017, at Roland Garros, Popyrin is a native of Sydney but resides in Marbella. Having moved to Spain eight years ago, he relished the opportunity to compete in his adopted hometown. 

“I feel great playing at home,” said Popyrin. “I practise on these courts a lot. I have a lot of friends coming to watch me. Even friends who don’t even play tennis. There are even fans here that I don’t know. It’s a great feeling to have them on your side.

“The level at these Challengers is tough. It’s much stronger than the tournaments I’ve been playing recently, but I’ve started to get accustomed to it and raise my game. I hope to take the next step and get to the ATP World Tour level this year too.”

Popyrin also took full advantage of his wild card in advancing to the second round. Right behind Davidovich Fokina in the ATP Rankings, he moved up to a projected career-high just outside the Top 400. 

Top seed @Robertocarba93 and #NextGenATP @alexdavidovich1 sign autographs following their first round wins @casinoadmiralt. Two of three ?? to advance in Marbella. pic.twitter.com/hppVyZRN8e

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 28, 2018

Popyrin, who upset both Federico Delbonis and Nicolas Mahut to qualify for his first ATP World Tour main draw in Sydney, is also enjoying a Challenger breakthrough in his first full year as a professional. He would reach his first quarter-final as a qualifier in Cherbourg, France last month.

“I am sure that in the next one or two years they will do great at the tournament,” said Tournament Director Ronnie Leitgeb. “Davidovich has very fast hands and hits the ball on the fast and deep with his forehand. And Popryin has a lot of potential to have a great serve, simply by his height. His footwork is not bad for such a tall guy either.”

Leitgeb has plenty of experience running a professional tournament at a high level, as the current owner of the ATP World Tour 250 event in Lyon and having organised the former Austrian tournament in St. Pölten and Pörtschach. It is also 20 years since he ran the successful Challenger in Graz, Austria.

“This a great place to play a Challenger,” added top seed Roberto Carballes Baena, who hails from nearby Granada and recently claimed his maiden ATP World Tour title in Quito. “All the Spaniards love to play at home as much as possible. For me, it’s very close to my home in Granada and it’s a pleasure to have my family come out for my matches.”

Spain also hosts ATP Challenger Tour events in Segovia and Sevilla, two of the longest-running tournaments on the circuit. And next week the expansion continues, as the country welcomes another new event in Alicante.

On Saturday, seventh seed Stefano Travaglia of Italy will face Argentina’s Guido Andreozzi for the title in Marbella. Travaglia is appearing in his second Challenger final, having won his maiden crown in Ostrava last year. Andreozzi will contest his 10th title match and second of the 2018 season. He prevailed on the clay of Punta del Este, Uruguay earlier this month.