Alexander Zverev vs. Arthur Fils: Where to Watch, Miami Open Preview, Betting Odds
The two are facing for the first time on outdoor hard courts for a place in the Miami Open quarterfinals.
Where to Watch
🖥️📱 Click here for live coverage on TennisChannel.com (United States only; start time at approximately 3:10 p.m. ET on March 26)
The winner of this match will meet world No. 54 Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals.
👉 Click here for the complete Miami Open bracket.
Miami Open Match Preview
Fils is only 20, but he has already faced Zverev four times. While the Frenchman has only won once, three of those matches have gone the distance. On grass in Halle last year, Zverev won 6-4 in the third set. In the Hamburg final on clay soon after, Fils spoiled Zverev’s hometown party, 7-6 in the third. And then later in the year, on indoor hard courts at Bercy, Zverev turned it back around, 6-3 in the third.
Now they’ll meet in a round of 16 encounter that was postponed due to rain on Tuesday. Each of these guys looks poised to break out of a slump.
Fils struggled to get any traction early in the season, but he has found it on U.S. hard courts this month. He made the quarters in Indian Wells, and beat Frances Tiafoe in three sets on Monday.
While Zverev said he failed to take a proper break after his debilitating loss in the Australian Open final, he claims he was finally able to put it behind him during an extended break in California after an early Indian Wells loss.
Zverev and Fils are built differently; the German is a lanky 6-foot-6, the Frenchman a muscular 6-foot-1. Their games reflect that. Zverev has the bigger serve, but once the point begins, he tends to lay back and use his length to patrol behind the baseline. Fils, meanwhile, looks to force the issue in rallies whenever he can. They both play with a lot of topspin, and are both more comfortable at the back of the court.
Is Fils ready to climb another step higher? Or is Zverev ready to move forward after Australia and claim a title that barely eluded him when he lost the final to John Isner seven years ago in Key Biscayne? Winner: Zverev—Steve Tignor