Miami Open 2023: Andrey Rublev vs J.J. Wolf preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (6) Andrey Rublev vs J.J. Wolf
Date: March 24, 2023
Tournament: Miami Open 2023
Round: Second round (Round of 64)
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
Andrey Rublev vs J.J. Wolf preview
After a first-round bye, sixth seed Andrey Rublev will lock horns with J.J. Wolf in the second round of the 2023 Miami Open on Friday.
Rublev's preparation for the Australian Open was less than ideal, as he lost in the first round of the two warm-up tournaments he competed in. Nevertheless, he managed to make it to the quarterfinals of the season's first Grand Slam, losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.
Rublev didn't perform well in his next couple of tournaments. He then reached his first final of the season at the Dubai Tennis Championships, but came up short against Daniil Medvedev.
The Russian received a first-round bye at the Indian Wells Masters, following which he defeated Jiri Lehecka and Ugo Humbert. He then lost to Cameron Norrie in the fourth round.
Wolf, meanwhile, faced Alexander Bublik in the first round of the Miami Open. The Kazakh secured a break of serve in the ninth game to go 5-4 up, but was unable to close out the set.
Wolf broke back to level the score and then nabbed the next couple of games to clinch the opener. The American raced to a 4-1 lead in the second set, a deficit his opponent was unable to recover from. The 24-year-old went on to win the match 7-5, 6-3.
Andrey Rublev vs J.J. Wolf head-to-head
Rublev leads Wolf 1-0 in the head-to-head. He won their previous encounter at the 2022 Citi Open in straight sets.
Andrey Rublev vs J.J. Wolf odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Andrey Rublev vs J.J. Wolf prediction
After a competitive first set, Wolf took control of the proceedings to oust Bublik and snap a three-match losing streak in the process. The American struck 14 winners and committed an equal number of unforced errors.
After an inconsistent start to the season, Rublev has settled into a decent rhythm, based on his most recent results. He won his previous and only encounter against Wolf quite handily, without dropping his serve even once.
Rublev's brand of hard-hitting tennis could put Wolf on the backfoot. However, the Russian's game can go off the rails at times, leading to a plethora of errors. The American has more stability in his game, which could help him outlast his opponent.
That said, Wolf is yet to defeat a player ranked in the top 10 and his recent results haven't been too encouraging either. The experienced Rublev is favored to come through this clash unscathed.
Pick: Andrey Rublev to win in straight sets.