Miami Open 2022: Hubert Hurkacz vs Lloyd Harris preview, head-to-head and prediction

Match Details

Fixture: (8) Hubert Hurkacz vs Lloyd Harris

Date: 29 March 2022

Tournament: Miami Open

Round: Fourth round (Round of 16)

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

Hubert Hurkacz vs Lloyd Harris preview

Hubert Hurkacz is defending his title in Miami

Eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz will square off against Lloyd Harris in the fourth round of the Miami Masters on Tuesday.

The Pole has blown hot and cold this season. He helped his nation reach the semifinals of the ATP Cup by winning all his singles matches during the group stage. Hurkacz then suffered second-round exits at the Australian Open and the Rotterdam Open, before reaching the semifinals in Dubai where he lost to eventual champion Andrey Rublev.

At Indian Wells, the 24-year-old reached the fourth round after beating Oscar Otte and Steve Johnson. However, he ran into an in-form Rublev and was once again beaten by the Russian.

Defending his title in Miami, Hurkacz beat Arthur Rinderknech and Aslan Karatsev to book his place in the fourth round of the competition.

Harris, meanwhile, had a poor start to the 2022 season, losing his first five matches. The South African's first tour-level victory of the year came against Facundo Bagnis in the second round of the Indian Wells Masters. However, he lost to Matteo Berrettini in the next round.

In Miami, the 25-year-old registered his second successive victory over Bagnis in the first round. He then upset 12th seed Denis Shapovalov in straight sets before defeating Yoshihito Nishioka to reach the last 16 of a Masters 1000 tournament for only the second time in his career.

Hubert Hurkacz vs Lloyd Harris head-to-head

Tuesday's match in Miami will be the first meeting between Hurkacz and Harris, so the head-to-head currently stands at 0-0. The winner will face either Daniil Medvedev or Jenson Brooksby in the quarterfinals.

Hubert Hurkacz vs Lloyd Harris prediction

Hurkacz will enter the match as the heavy favorite given his superior form and ranking. The Pole had some disappointing results immediately after the ATP Cup but has recovered nicely since then. Harris, on the other hand, had a disastrous start to the year but is gradually improving and showcased his potential in the win over Shapovalov.

Hurkacz has served a total of 41 aces in his last two matches and will look for more of the same against Harris. The Pole generally adopts a defensive approach in matches, but can quickly shift gears when needed.

Harris is a big server as well and struck 19 aces in his last match. The South African also has a win percentage of 77.2% on first serve in his last four matches (129/167). He will need that shot to work against Hurkacz to keep pace with the Pole.

At his best, Hurkacz is capable of beating almost anyone on the ATP tour. He is slowly returning to the form that saw him win the Miami Masters last year. If he continues playing well, he should be too strong for Harris.

Prediction: Hurkacz to win in straight sets