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The fifth day of main draw action at the 2023 Miami Open will feature 16 ATP singles matches on Saturday (March 25) to conclude the second round. Sixteen seeds, three qualifiers, and two lucky losers will be in action.
The likes of second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, fourth seed Daniil Medvedev and home hopes Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton will take to the court for the first time this week.
So, without further ado, here's a look at the top five singles matches at the Miami Open on Saturday:
#1 Stefanos Tsitsipas (Miami Open second seed) vs Richard Gasquet
Second seed Tsitsipas will take on World No. 40 Gasquet in the Miami Open opener.
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The third-ranked Tsitsipas is 13-3 in 2023, making the Australian Open final. However, he's coming off an opening-round loss at Indian Wells last fortnight. Meanwhile, Gasquet is 8-6 on the season, beating Christopher O'Connell in his opener.
The pair have split their two previous meetings. Tsitsipas won their only hardcourt meeting (Doha, 2018) and should do so again.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in straight sets
#2 Daniil Medvedev vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Fourth seed Medvedev will look to make a swift return to winning ways when he takes on the 84th-ranked Carballes Baena.
World No. 5 Medvedev's 19-match winning streak was ended by Carlos Alcaraz in the Indian Wells final last week. The Russian (24-3) has won titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai this year. Meanwhile, Carballes Baena is 4-7 in 2023 after beating Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the opener.
Medvedev took their lone meeting at the Australian Open (2R) in 2021 and should win again.
Prediction: Medvedev in straight sets
#3 Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Thiago Monteiro
Fifth seed Auger-Aliassime will open his Miami Open campaign against World No. 81 Thiago Monteiro.
World No. 6 Auger-Aliassime is 11-6 on the season, reaching the quarterfinals in Doha and Indian Wells and the last four in Doha. Meanwhile, Monteiro improved to 5-9 in 2023 by beating Jason Kubler in his opener.
Auger-Aliassime is 2-0 against the Brazilian, including 1-0 on hardcourts (2020 US Open 1R) and should prevail again.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in straight sets
#4 Frances Tiafoe vs Yosuke Watanuki
Twelfth seed Tiafoe will open his Miami Open campaign against qualifier Yosuke Watanuki.
The 14th-ranked Tiafoe is 14-4 in 2023, making the semifinals at Indian Wells and the last eight at Acapulco and Dallas. Meanwhile, World No. 123 Watanuki is 2-1 on the season after beating Benoit Paire in the first round.
The pair haven't met before, but Tiafoe should take this first-round matchup.
Prediction: Tiafoe in straight sets
#5 Cameron Norrie vs Gregoire Barrere
11th seed Norrie takes on World No. 65 Barrere for a place in the Miami Open third round.
The 12th-ranked Norrie has lost just four times in 25 matches this year, winning Rio de Janeiro and reaching the finals in Auckland and Buenos Aires. Meanwhile, Barrere is 6-6 in 2023 after beating Roman Saifulin in the opener.
The two players have split their two previous meetings, but the in-form Norrie should take this one.
Prediction: Norrie in straight sets
