Joao Fonseca Secures First Masters 1000 Quarter-final in Our Miami Open Day 7 Predictions

Ahead of a mouth-watering slate on day seven, find a handful of Miami Open predictions along with the full schedule for Monday’s play.

Miami Open Preview – Monday March 24th

The business end of the Miami Open is fast approaching as the first of the quarter-finals takes place on Monday.

Although it is the sole final-eight match of the day, 2023 Sunshine Double winner Iga Swiatek goes up against the in-form Elina Svitolina who is hot off the press from an impressive win over Karolina Muchova.

The rest of the WTA Miami Open round of 16 matches conclude on Monday as five Americans continue to chase glory on home soil – including a fascinating contest between world number one Aryna Sabalenka and the ever-divisive Danielle Collins.

As for the men’s, the round of 16 is already taking shape for Tuesday but the final schedule will be complete on Monday. With the likes of number two seed Carlos Alcaraz and recent Novak Djokovic – a man who hasn’t featured in Miami since 2019 – into pole position as the surprise outright favourite.

Miami Open Day 7 Full Schedule – 24th March

Stadium

• Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Jordan Thompson (AUS)
• [1] Aryna Sabalenka vs [14] Danielle Collins (USA)
• [3] Coco Gauff (USA) vs Magda Linette (POL)
• [10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs Joao Fonseca (BRA)
• [22] Elina Svitolina (UKR) vs [2] Iga Swiatek (POL)

Grandstand

• WTA – Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs [6] Jasmine Paolini (ITA)
• [3] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs [27] Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
• [17] Arthur Fils (FRA) vs [16] s Tiafoe (USA)
• [29] Matteo Berrettini (ITA) vs Zizou Bergs (BEL)
• Alexandra Eala (PHI) vs [10] Paula Badosa (ESP)

Butch Buchholz 

• Reilly Opelka (USA) vs [20] Tomas Machac (CZE)
• [9] Qinwen Zheng (CHN) vs Ashlyn Krueger (USA)
• Emma Raducanu (GBR) vs [17] Amanda Anisimova (USA)
• [23] Marta Kostyuk (UKR) vs [4] Jessica Pegula (USA)

Court 1

• [LL] Adam Walton (AUS) vs [WC] Coleman Wong (HKG)
• Roman Safiullin vs Jakub Mensik (CZE)

Miami Open Predictions Day 7

Joao Fonseca vs Alex de Minaur

This has the potential to be the defining match on Monday in Miami.

It pits ATP number 11 Alex de Minaur against teenage sensation Joao Fonseca, who continues to send seismic ripples throughout his breakout year after winning his first ATP title in Buenos Aires.

Monday’s match will be an intriguing clash of styles between one of the best defensive players on the Tour in de Minaur, while Fonseca’s penchant for big-swining baseline strokes could make this a breathless content.

The Brazilian has also looked comfortable with the more inventive side of his game, coming short to the net and incorporating some deadly dropshots that have fooled several of his opponents so far in Miami.

There is a rawness about the 18-year-old, which was perhaps most evident in an erratic defeat to Jack Draper at Indian Wells, but assured victories over Learner Tien and Ugo Humbert shows he has what it takes to compete against established names.

De Minaur is entirely different prospect however, and the nine-time winner on the Tour is about as well-equipped as anyone to handle Fonseca’s groundstrokes.

We expect this could be a three-setter given bookmakers are struggling to split them, but there is palpable magic about the way Fonseca is making his way through each stage at Miami. His ability to command the crowd – which is notoriously raucous in Florida – could be a key factor in spurring him onto victory.

Prediction: Fonseca to Win in Three Sets

Elina Svitolina vs Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek’s previous record in Miami makes her perhaps the one to beat, and her performances so far have done little to change that fact.

There is a shred of doubt surrounding her game with the Pole itting the courts feel quicker than usual. It has seen her typically iron-clad forehand game unravel at times in her opening matches, with Elise Mertens giving her a first-set scare and force a tiebreak.

Her next opponent – Elina Svitolina – has already claimed some big scalps in South Beach. The in-form Belinda Bencic – who knocked out Coco Gauff at Indian Wells, was followed by the formidable Karolina Muchova.

Swiatek is no doubt favoured to prevail in this contest against an ageing Svitolina, but this could well be a laboured win for the Pole who we expect to drop one set on her road to victory.

Prediction: Over 19.5 Games