Wednesday 27 March 2013

ATP Miami Quarter-Final Predictions: Berdych-Gasquet and Murray-Cilic

Tomas Berdych v Richard Gasquet
Richard Gasquet
Richard Gasquet enjoyed arguably his best win of 2013 to date with a 6-7(3) 7-5 7-6(3) victory over the number 12 in the world, Nicolas Almagro.  It was a very tight match, but Almagro was poor in the breaker and Gasquet took his opportunities.  Gasquet will now play Tomas Berdych, who swept past Sam Querrey, 6-1 6-1 in just 51 minutes.  Berdych was on the edge of going out in round three, but saved two match points in an incredibly gutsy performance against Alejandro Falla.  Berdych won just last week over Gasquet in Indian Wells with a 6-1 7-5 victory.  Gasquet has played better in Miami, but Berdych will be another step up for the Frenchman and one that I believe will be too far...

Prediction - Berdych to beat Gasquet in 2 very tight sets

Andy Murray v Marin Cilic
Andy Murray is now the highest seed remaining in the mens tournament following Novak Djokovic's 4th round exit to Tommy Haas. His quarter-final opponent will be Marin Cilic, who was in excellent form to dispatch of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets.  The head-to-head is not a pretty sight for Cilic who has lost the last 4 encounters with Murray.  The most recent of those at last year's US Open was an extremely painful one as he blew a set and 5-1 lead before collapsing in 4 sets.  Murray is playing well this week and has defeated Bernard Tomic, Grigor Dimitrov and Andreas Seppi, all in straight sets.  Cilic has weapons and can be dangerous in-form, but I would still always fancy Murray to prevail.

Prediction - Murray to beat Cilic in 2 tight sets

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