Sony Ericsson Open – Miami, Florida – March 19-April 1. Predictions?

Question

[Seeded] Name (World Ranking)

[1] Roger Federer (1)
[2] Rafael Nadal (2)
[3] Andy Roddick (3)
[4] Nikolay Davydenko (4)
[5] Fernando Gonzalez (5)
[6] Tommy Robredo (6)
[7] Ivan Ljubicic (7)
[8] James Blake (8)
[9] Tommy Haas (9)
[10] Novak Djokovic (10)
[11] David Nalbandian (11)
[12] Andy Murray (12)
[13] David Ferrer (14)
[14] Tomas Berdych (15)
[15] Richard Gasquet (16)
[16] Mikhail Youzhny (17)
[17] Marcos Baghdatis (18)
[18] Lleyton Hewitt (19)
[19] Juan Carlos Ferrero (20)
[20] Jarkko Nieminen (21)
[21] Dmitry Tursunov(22)
[22] Dominik Hrbaty (24)
[23] Juan Ignacio Chela (25)
[24] Radek Stepanek (26)
[25] Marat Safin (27)
[26] Jurgen Melzer (29)
[27] Carlos Moya (32)
[28] Fernando Verdasco (33)
[29] Nicolas Almagro (34)
[30] Olivier Rochus (36)
[31] Jose Acasuso (37)
[32] Gilles Simon (38)

Federer is the two-time defending champion and the obvious favourite. Nadal is the next favourite after Indian Wells win.

[18] Hewitt has retired before the commencement of the tournament, siting a lower back injury. He was replaced by lucky loser American Robert Kendrick (87), who made the round of 16 last week at Indian Wells.

Correction: Kendrick didn't make round of 16 at Indian Wells 2007 (mixed up with fellow American Michael Russell).

Second round casualities included [19] Ferrero, [9] Haas, [28] Verdasco, [31] Acasuso, [27] Moya, [26] Melzer, [21] Tursunov, [8] Blake, [25] Safin, [22] Hrbaty, and [17] Baghdatis.

Haas lost 6-4, 6-4 to Columbian Alejandro Falla (95), Blake lost 7-6(8), 2-6, 6-3 to Frenchman Florent Serra (64), and Baghdatis lost 6-2, 5-7, 6-0 to young, up-and-coming, Argentine Juan Martin del Potro (63).

Third round casualities include [15] Gasquet, [4] Davydenko, [14] Berdych, [11] Nalbandian, [5] Gonzalez, and [16] Youzhny.

Davydenko lost 7-6(5), 6-3 to American Amer Delic (89). Gonzalez lost 6-3, 7-6(6) to Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu (61), who made the quarter-finals of Sydney earlier this year. Gasquet lost to a qualifier, Guillermo Canas, who is on the road back from a 2-year reduced drug ban and who defeated Roger Federer in the 2nd round of last weeks' Indian Wells tournament. Canas matches up next in the fourth round against Federer.

The only upset of the fourth round was [1] Federer's lost to Guillermo Canas (55). Federer lost for the second time in as many weeks to Canas in a thrilling match 7-6(2), 2-6, 7-6(5). Many people thought Federer had an injury problem or just a bad day of form when they last meet, but this result proves that Canas is one of very few bad match-ups for the reigning world number one.

The quarter-final matches are:
Guillermo Canas v. [6] Robredo
[23] Chela v. [7] Ljubicic
[12] Murray v. [3] Roddick
[10] Djokovic v. [2] Nadal

Quarter-finals:

Guillermo Canas (55) d. [6] Robredo; 7-6(5), 6-1

[7] Ljubicic d. [23] Chela; 6-3, 7-5

[12] Murray d. [3] Roddick; 5-3, Ret'd

[10] Djokovic d. [2] Nadal; 6-3, 6-4

The replay of the Indian Wells final saw Djokovic, this time, coming out on top. Djokovic will play the same man he faced in the semi-finals of Indian Wells, Andy Murray, hoping the reversing of results doesn't continue. Murray defeated Roddick after being on top in the first set and winning through on retirement. Murray and Roddick have had some great match-ups in the last couple of months in the US. Roddick won in the semi-finals at Memphis, while Murray won in the semi-finals at San Jose.

Ljubicic made the final of last years' Miami event, before losing to Roger Federer, and he will be hoping to at least equal that feat this year when he faces Canas in the semi-finals.

Semi-finals:
Guillermo Canas (55) v. [7] Ljubicic
[12] Murray v. [10] Djokovic

Semi-finals;

Guillermo Canas (55) d. [7] Ljubicic; 7-5, 6-2

[10] Djokovic d. [12] Murray; 6-1, 6-0

Canas became the first qualifier to ever make the finals of Miami, and will be hoping to win his 2nd Masters Series event, after claiming the Toronto title back in 2002.

Djokovic crushed Murray empathically in a very impressive display. He will be going for his 1st Masters series title in his short career, and has shown enough in the last month to be a top 5 player.

Novak Djokovic claimed the Miami title by defeating qualifier Guillermo Canas (55) in comfortable fashion 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. At 19 years of age, he became the youngest player ever to claim the title, and the fifth teenager to win a Masters Series event. He didn't drop a set throughout the tournament, only matched at Miami by Ivan Lendl, and held 59 of 60 service games. After a golden month, where he also made the final of Indian Wells, Djokovic has broken the top 10 and will be ranked 7th.

Answer 1

Most likey, Federer is going to win. So instead, of just writing that, I'm also going to predict whos going to the finals with Federer. Its between Nadal and Roddick. If everythings go's well, those two will meet up in the semis. Hopefully its not the same outcome. I doubt if it will be though =]

Edit - All the people I thought were going to win are out again. Including Roger. I thought Canas beat him by luck the first time, but Canas beat him with pure talent

Anyway I think Djokovic and Canas are going to the final, and hopefully Canas is going to win the title.

Answer 2

Well i believe federer is going to win it without a problem. He is so mad about his early round lose a couple weeks ago. He is going to get back on the winning track. Nadal could do well, it is his chance to show his win wasent a fluke, and after that who knows, i think some lower seed, i dont know who, is going to do well this tournament. So that is my prediction.

Answer 3

I expect federer and nadal to do really well in their own sides of the brackets..haas and djokovic also will do well..murray also..

Answer 4

Federer! Even if he lost a match 2weeks ago, he won 41 prior to that. He has got to be the firm favourite.

Answer 5

I'm sure it's Federer or Nadal!
And I hopes a beautiful finale between them!!
Finally I love Rafa win a 8th masters series of his fabulous career!!
iiiVamos Rafa!!!

Answer 6

hey i think it is going to be a very good tournament indeed,and i think going by the form of those two players,maybe roger and nadal will make it to the final,from then on,i think nadal is gonna win!!!!!

Answer 7

I like your updating.
As we are at the last day, I am sure Djokovic will win.

Answer 8

Federer!!!But may be,one of the seeded surprisely,beat him.But hopefully not!!

Answer 9

i do think it's mostly, Roger Federer,