The ATP Miami tournament is nearing its conclusion. The opened draw has created opportunities for lower-ranked players to make a name for themselves. However, to contend for the title, any player on this side of the bracket must overcome the tournament’s second seed, Jannik Sinner. Below are the previews and predictions for the two upcoming matches. Who will emerge victorious?
Alexander Zverev vs Francisco Cerundolo
Head-to-Head: Zverev 3-3 Cerundolo
Alexander Zverev, despite all the discussions, has consistently remained a top-5 player in world tennis for the better part of the last decade. This year, his record is 14-4, and he is just one win away from reaching the semifinals of both 2026 Sunshine Double tournaments. However, his path to victory on Thursday will not be easy. As for Francisco Cerundolo, once considered a clay-court specialist, the 27-year-old Argentine has reached the ATP Miami quarterfinals and is on the verge of a new career-high ranking. He is delivering one of the best performances on tour this year, excluding Alcaraz or Sinner, with a record of 11-4 since the Australian Open.
These players have split their six encounters, and although Zverev has won the last three, Cerundolo defeated him twice in the first half of 2035. Expect intense baseline rallies with many fast cross-court exchanges. It would not be surprising if Cerundolo achieved an upset with the support of the Argentine crowd, but I lean towards the safer pick—Sascha.
Prediction: Zverev in 3 sets
Jannik Sinner vs Frances Tiafoe
Head-to-Head: Sinner 4-1 Tiafoe
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner is three wins away from becoming the eighth male player to claim a same-year Sunshine Double. Given the open draw and the Italian’s current form, he is the clear favorite. After a lackluster 2025, Frances Tiafoe has bounced back with a 15-7 record at the start of 2026. The 28-year-old American has shown consistency against lower-ranked opponents but has a record of just 2-5 against top-25 players. One of those wins came in Miami against Mensik, but Sinner presents an entirely different challenge. I can envision Tiafoe taking a 7-6 set with the backing of the American crowd, but a straight-set victory for the Italian seems more probable.
Prediction: Sinner in 2 sets
