Miami Open 2023: Andy Murray vs Dusan Lajovic preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick

Match Details

Fixture: Andy Murray vs Dusan Lajovic

Tournament: Miami Open 2023

Date: Wednesday, March 22

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

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Andy Murray vs Dusan Lajovic preview

Murray plays Lajovic in the first round.

Two-time winner Andy Murray will open his Miami Open campaign against Serbian veteran Dusan Lajovic.

The 52nd-ranked Murray is 8-4 this season following a third-round exit at Indian Wells (losing to Jack Draper) last week. Earlier, he reached his first final since June 2022 when he made the title match in Doha after four straight three-set wins. However, the Scot's inspired run was ended by Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.

Murray had opened his 2023 campaign with a first-round loss at Adelaide 1 before a pair of five-set wins over Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open. The five-time finalist lost to Roberto Bautista Agut in four sets in the next round, though.

Meanwhile, World No. 76 Lajovic is 7-5 for the season. He enters this tournament on the back of a quarterfinal exit in Santiago (lost to Tomas Martin Etcheverry) and falling in the qualifiers at Indian Wells.

Earlier, the 32-year-old Serb also made the last eight in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, losing to Carlos Alcaraz on both occasions. Lajovic had opened his 2023 campaign with a first-round loss to to Denis Shapovalov at the Australian Open before making the second round in Cordoba (lost to Albert Ramos Vinolas).

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Andy Murray vs Dusan Lajovic head-to-head

Murray and Lajovic have never met before on tour, so their head-to-head record stands at 0-0.

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Andy Murray vs Dusan Lajovic odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total games (over/under)
Andy Murray	-450	-4.5 (-120)	Over 21.5 (-110)
Dusan Lajovic	+333	+4.5 (-120)	Under 21.5 (-125)

All odds as per bet365

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Andy Murray vs Dusan Lajovic prediction

Lajovic takes on Murray for the first time.

Both Murray and Lajovic are quintessential baseliners, looking to dominate opponents from the back of the court.

However, the Scot is clearly the better of the two players even though his movement is not the same as it was before his hip surgery five years ago. Murray has serious hardcourt pedigree - reaching multiple Masters 1000 and Grand Slam finals on the surface - while Lajovic plays his best tennis on clay.

Murray tends to make slow starts, as was evident in his runs at Doha and the Australian Open. Lajovic's best chance of beating the Scot would be to rush off the blocks. The Serb's trademark singlehander is less of a weapon on hardcourt, though, which Murray will look to capitalize on.

Prediction: Murray in straight sets.