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Match Details
Fixture: (9) Taylor Fritz vs (24) Denis Shapovalov
Date: March 26, 2023
Tournament: Miami Open 2023
Round: Third round (Round of 32)
Venue: Miami Gardens, Florida, United States
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize money: $8,800,000
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel/TC Plus | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Taylor Fritz vs Denis Shapovalov preview
World No. 10 Taylor Fritz will square off against 24th seed Denis Shapovalov in the third round of the 2023 Miami Open on Sunday.
Following a first-round bye, Fritz faced fellow American Emilio Nava in the second round. The duo started the contest by trading breaks, but otherwise remained steady on serve for most of the set.
With Nava serving to stay in the set at 5-4, Fritz broke his compatriot's serve once again to clinch the set. The second set was more one-sided, with the 25-year-old dishing out a breadstick to win the match 6-4, 6-1.
Meanwhile, Shapovalov faced Guido Pella in the second round. The Canadian snagged an early break of serve to go 3-0 up. He remained in front until the end of the set to take it.
Pella mounted a comeback by claiming the second set. The two were evenly matched in the third set, but Shapovalov raised his level towards the end as he bagged three games in a row to win the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Taylor Fritz vs Denis Shapovalov head-to-head
Shapovalov leads Fritz 5-3 in the head-to-head. The American won their most recent encounter at last month's Mexican Open in straight sets.
Taylor Fritz vs Denis Shapovalov odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Taylor Fritz vs Denis Shapovalov prediction
While Fritz faced little resistance in getting past Nava in the previous round, Shapovalov had to recover from a second-set stumble to oust Pella. The Canadian will now be aiming to win two consecutive matches for the first time since the Australian Open.
Fritz has eclipsed Shapovalov with respect to their achievements over the past year. The American broke into the top five of the ATP rankings, won a Masters 1000 title and has been performing consistently since.
Shapovalov's poor run of form over the past few weeks has been concerning. However, he's now up against a familiar foe in the form of Fritz. The American has not defeated him twice in a row so far.
Both are excellent shotmakers with a strong serve to boot. Shapovalov's more aggressive ball-striking has often put Fritz on the backfoot in the past. But the Canadian's high-risk gameplay also makes things difficult for himself. Given their recent form, Fritz will be the favorite to come out on top in this contest.
Pick: Taylor Fritz to win in straight sets.
