Three to See, Miami Open Day 6: Kyrgios vs. Fognini; Swiatek vs. Brengle; McDonald vs. Zverev
Can rising American star Mackenzie McDonald score a major upset? Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek plays her first match since clinching world No. 1.
WATCH: Swiatek addressed the Stadium court crowd after becoming the first Pole to reach world No. 1.
Iga Swiatek vs. Madison Brengle
Who can stop Swiatek? The 20-year-old Warsaw native has won 11 straight matches and two straight tournaments, and she became the WTA’s new No. 1 this week, after Ashleigh Barty’s retirement. She’s the player to watch right now, but instead of feeling extra pressure, she seemed inspired by the moment, thumping Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-0. That was a night match, and this one will be, too, but it probably won’t be quite as one-sided. Swiatek and Brengle have split their two previous matches, and the American should feel at home in Miami, and feel like she has nothing to lose against this opponent. Winner: Swiatek
Nick Kyrgios vs. Fabio Fognini
Say these two names together and the mind tends to wander to scary places. Kyrgios and Fognini, as you probably don’t need to be reminded, are two of the sport’s most notorious enfants terribles. But it’s possible, just possible, that they won’t stage a co-meltdown when they meet on Sunday. The 34-year-old Italian, now a father of three, isn’t quite as committed to total match disintegration as he once was. And the Australian, who turns 27 next month, is staging one of his periodic resurgences, and has played some committed tennis recently. They’ve met once before, in Miami in 2018, and Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3. Something similarly routine could happen again. Or utter chaos could ensue. Winner: Kyrgios
Alexander Zverev vs. Mackenzie McDonald
The German is 2-0 against the American, with straight-set wins on hard courts in Acapulco in 2018 and Montpellier last month. But this is the U.S., and a night session, and McDonald should get significant and spirited crowd support. Zverev has had a wobbly start to 2022; he was expelled form Acapulco and he lost to McDonald’s countryman, Tommy Paul, in a similar evening setting two weeks ago in Indian Wells. Still, there’s only so much an atmosphere can do. Zverev is still the bigger and better player. Winner: Zverev