Miami Open 2023: Alexander Bublik vs J.J. Wolf preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: Alexander Bublik vs J.J. Wolf
Tournament: Miami Open 2023
Round: First round (Round of 128)
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
Alexander Bublik vs J.J. Wolf preview
Alexander Bublik and J.J. Wolf are set to square off in the first round of the 2023 Miami Open.
Bublik started the new season by losing eight matches in a row. He finally scored his first win of the year by defeating Filip Krajinovic at the Open 13 Provence. The 25-year-old then knocked out Gregoire Barrere and Grigor Dimitrov before losing to Hubert Hurkacz in the semifinals.
Bublik next competed at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where Daniil Medvedev ousted him in the second round.
The Kazakh faced qualifier Tung-Lin Wu in the first round of the Indian Wells Masters. He was expected to win the encounter, but suffered a straight-sets loss instead.
Following his early exit from the California desert, Bublik competed in the Challenger tournament in Phoenix. He went on to reach the quarterfinals, going down to Jan-Lennard Struff in three sets.
Wolf, meanwhile, started the season on a positive by reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time at the Australian Open. He continued his good run of form at the Dallas Open by making it to the semifinals, where he was defeated by fellow American John Isner in three sets.
Following a second-round exit from the Delray Beach Open, Wolf has suffered a dip in form. He crashed out in the first round of the Mexican Open and failed to get past the opening hurdle at the Indian Wells Masters as well.
Alexander Bublik vs J.J. Wolf head-to-head
Wolf leads Bublik 1-0 in the head-to-head. He won their previous encounter at the 2022 Firenze Open in three sets.
Alexander Bublik vs J.J. Wolf odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Alexander Bublik vs J.J. Wolf prediction
After a good start to the year, Wolf is finding it tough to win back-to-back matches. Bublik, on the other hand, has performed well in just one tournament so far. The Kazakh's serve has been slightly unreliable of late.
Bublik used to win quite a few free points off of it. However, a flurry of double faults negate whatever advantage he secures these days. During their previous contest in Firenze last year, the Kazakh blasted 19 aces, but offset the good work with 15 doubles faults.
Wolf has certainly improved his serve and ranks 14th with respect to service games won this year. He's far more consistent from the back of the court as well. While the American's going through a rough patch of his own at the moment, he's likely to snap his losing streak by getting the better of Bublik.
Pick: J.J. Wolf to win in straight sets.