Miami Open 2022: Alexander Zverev vs Casper Ruud preview, head-to-head and prediction

Match Details

Fixture: (2) Alexander Zverev vs (6) Casper Ruud

Date: 30 March 2022

Tournament: Miami Open

Round: Quarterfinals

Venue: Miami, Florida, USA

Category: ATP Masters 1000

Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt

Prize money: $8,584,055

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel & ESPN | UK - Amazon Prime Video | India - Voot

Alexander Zverev vs Casper Ruud preview

Casper Ruud will look to reach his third Masters 1000 semifinal by beating Alexander Zverev

Second seed Alexander Zverev will take on sixth seed Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals of the Miami Masters on Wednesday.

The German started the year by winning two out of three singles matches in the ATP Cup. He then reached the fourth round of the Australian Open by beating Daniel Altmaier, John Millman and Radu Albot. However, he lost to Denis Shapovalov in the last 16.

Zverev followed this up by reaching the final of the Open Sud de France following straight-sets wins over Mackenzie McDonald, Adrian Mannarino and Mikael Ymer. However, he was beaten by Alexander Bublik in straight sets in the title clash.

The 24-year-old entered the Mexican Open in Acapulco as the reigning champion and reached the third round after beating Jenson Brooksby. However, he was withdrawn from the tournament due to unsportsmanlike conduct during his doubles match where he smashed his racquet on the umpire's chair repeatedly.

The German represented his nation in the Davis Cup qualifiers and won both of his matches against Brazil's Thiago Seyboth Wild and Thiago Monteiro. Germany won 3-1 and booked their place in the Davis Cup Finals.

Zverev then suffered a second-round exit at Indian Wells after losing to Tommy Paul. He entered the Miami Open as the second seed and reached the quarterfinals following wins over Borna Coric, Mackenzie McDonald and Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Like Zverev, Ruud also won two out of three singles matches in what was an otherwise disappointing ATP Cup for Norway. The 23-year-old missed the Australian Open due to an ankle injury but returned to action at the Argentina Open. He went on to win the competition by beating Diego Schwartzman in the final.

The World No. 8 was part of Norway's squad for their Davis Cup qualifying tie against Kazakhstan. He beat Mikhail Kukushkin but lost to Alexander Bublik as Norway lost 1-3 and failed to reach the Davis Cup Finals.

Ruud then suffered a third-round exit at the Indian Wells Masters after losing to Nick Kyrgios. The Norwegian entered the Miami Masters as the sixth seed and reached the quarterfinals after beating Henri Laaksonen, Alexander Bublik and Cameron Norrie.

Alexander Zverev vs Casper Ruud head-to-head

Wednesday's match in Miami will be the third meeting between the two players, with Zverev leading the head-to-head 2-0. Both of their previous encounters came last year.

Zverev beat Ruud in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters and the Paris Masters in straight sets.

Alexander Zverev vs Casper Ruud prediction

Zverev has won 14 out of 18 matches in 2022 so far, while Ruud has won 11 out of 14, with six of those coming on hardcourt.

The German will rely heavily on his first serve and two-handed backhand to do the damage against Ruud. If Zverev's first serve fails him, the German has his work cut out as he tries to avoid accumulating double faults.

With a good kick serve and consistent grounstrokes that rarely miss their mark, the Norwegian will look to move Zverev around and draw errors from his forehand. Ruud has made massive improvements on hardcourt over the past year with his first title on the surface in San Diego last year. His forehand is the biggest weapon with which he will look to dictate the play against Zverev.

The match will be tightly contested but the Norwegian might just come out on top and reach his first Masters 1000 semifinal on hardcourt.

Prediction: Ruud to win in three sets.

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Also Check Out: Miami Open 2022 Schedule