Miami Open 2024: Carlos Alcaraz vs Grigor Dimitrov; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction

Can Carlos Alcaraz become the first man to clinch the ‘Sunshine Double’ since Roger Federer in 2017? Well, to answer this question, the 20-year-old Spaniard first needs to overcome the Bulgarian hurdle that lies in front of him at the QF of the 2024 Miami Open. Grigor Dimitrov on the other hand, is looking forward to making a comeback into the Top 10 for the first time since 2018. But who has the upper hand in this intriguing contest?

Both the players have looked quite sharp in this tournament. Carlos Alcaraz won the title at this tournament in 2022 and reached the semifinals last year. How far can he go this time? Let’s head into the predictions.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Grigor Dimitrov: Preview

Alcaraz started his season by reaching the QF of the 2024 AO. After that, he took part in the Argentina Open and reached the SF over there. But then the Spaniard faced an early exit from the Rio Open. However, he made a stellar comeback at Indian Wells and defeated Daniil Medvedev by 7-6(5),6-1 in the finals. This match was in fact a repetition of last year’s final and guess what? The outcome of the matches was also the same- Alcaraz managed to successfully defend his title.

In his previous match, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in just 90 minutes. Fans witnessed his incredible shot-making abilities including precise drop shots, perfect lobs, and even a tweener in his last match. Alcaraz believes he’s “probably” playing his best tennis since last summer. What does the Bulgarian think?

Grigor Dimitrov’s incredible inside-out forehand and powerful one-handed backhand were put on display during his recent matches. The one-handed backhand has been one of his lethal weapons over the last few years, and it has caused trouble for his opponents. Does it have enough gas to trouble the world number 2? Time will tell.

But looking at the run this year, Grigor Dimitrov started his season with a title triumph at the Brisbane International. After that, he made a third-round exit from the AO but reached the finals in his next tournament in Marseille, France. In Rotterdam, he made it into the SF, however, his journey at Indian Wells was cut short in the R16. Dimitrov is currently looking in good touch in Miami. He surely has the potential to upset the world number 2. But who’s leading their H2H?

Alcaraz vs Dimitrov: Head-to-Head

Both of them have met each other 4 times on the tour previously. Although Carlos Alcaraz leads the H2H with a 3-1 margin, Grigor Dimitrov snatched a victory in their last meeting at the R16 of the 2023 Rolex Shanghai Masters. The Spaniard has so far been unchallenged in this tournament in Miami, can the Bulgarian be that mighty challenger to Alcaraz’s goal of winning a ‘Sunshine Double’?

Carlos Alcaraz has made a decent start to his season winning 15 out of his 18 matches. On the other hand, Grigor Dimitrov has won 18 out of the last 22 matches. It seems that this is going to be a tough battle to win. So, holding the nerves till the end will be a key deciding factor in this match.

Prediction: Alcaraz to win in three sets

Carlos Alcaraz may be junior to Grigor Dimitrov by 12 years, but he has the experience of winning titles in the US. He has dropped just 2 sets across his last 9 matches and has won all of his last 9 matches. Only two players have earned more ranking points than the Spaniard this year. His fans now hope he gets closer to the top spot in the men’s singles ranking by winning yet another title here in Miami. 

Grigor Dimitrov, on the other hand, has been taken to a final set in 2 of the last 3 matches so far in this tournament. Can he hold his nerves against one of the favorites of this tournament? Share your thoughts on this in the comment box.

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