Francisco Cerundolo vs Karen Khachanov Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Miami

Prediction published on 30/03/2023, 03:50  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 30/03/2023 at 07:00 in Tennis Predictions

Karen Khachanov and Francisco Cerundolo will face off for the second time in their careers when the pair meet in Miami for what’s shaping up to be an entertaining quarter-final round on Thursday. Khachanov’s best performance to date came at the Australian Open back in January, where he navigated a tricky route to earn a semi-final appearance against Stefanos Tsitsipas but was unable to overcome the Greek and eventually lost a hard-fought match (7-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3). Khachanov then took a month off to deal with some minor injuries and returned to the court in Dubai last month but looked evidently rusty, bowing out in the first round against Botic Van De Zandschulp (7-5, 6-2) and only managed a second round appearance a week later at Indian Wells, beaten by Alejandro Fokina (6-3, 1-6, 6-4). However, the Russian has looked much better here in Miami, overcoming Tomas Etchevverry, Jiri Lehecka, and then got his revenge over second seeded Tsitsipas in the last round (7-6, 6-4). Khachanov faces a different type of opponent this time around in Cerundolo and will know that he has to be at his best if he is to get to only his second semi-final of the year. 

Ranked 31st in the world, Cerundolo will be making his third quarter-final appearance of the year in this one after bowing out at this stage of the competition in Cordoba and Buenos Aires last month. Since then, he’s found the going a little tough, getting knocked out in the tournament opener in Santiago and only managing second-round appearances in Rio and at the Indian Wells Masters earlier this month. However, the Argentine looks to have turned his fortunes around somewhat in this tournament, overcoming the likes of Aleksandar Kovacevic in the tournament opener and then following up with two excellent wins over the fancied Felix Auger Aliassime (6-2, 7-5) and most recently over Lorenzo Sonego (3-6, 6-3, 6-2).  He's bidding to reach the last four in Miami for the second successive year. Cerundolo will know that his opponent hasn’t been at his best this year, contending with a few injuries, and will see this as a great opportunity to make his first semi-final appearance of 2023.