Djokovic Odds-On Favourite For Miami Masters

Miami Masters

Tennis
Published: 24/03/2015

Novak Djokovic is the current odds-on favourite to pick up this year`s ATP Miami Masters. Whilst the Serbian is the tournament`s reigning champion after scooping the 2014 renewal, he has also picked up the top honours back in 2007, 2011 and 2012. He was the runner-up in 2009 when losing out to Andy Murray in straight sets (6-2, 7-5). Winning his fifth Miami Masters title would see him move to within one of Andre Agassi`s record of six triumphs. Bwin currently have the best price on Djokovic doing that, this price being 19/20.

The world number one has participated in four tournaments so far this year and has only failed to reach the final on one occasion. This failure came in Doha back at the start of the year, losing out to Ivo Karlovic (7-6, 6-7, 4-6) in the quarter-final of the competition. Djokovic would bounce back from this disappointment by taking the first Grand Slam of the year, winning the Australian Open by beating Andy Murray by three sets to one in the final (7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-0). This was only the second time in the seven stages of that tournament that the Belgrade-born star needed four sets to see off an opponent.

Six-foot-two Djokovic would lose out to Roger Federer (3-6, 5-7) in the final of Dubai Duty Free Championships on his competition reappearance, before gaining his revenge in the final of the Indian Wells Masters. The 27-year-old would win that match 6-3, 6-7, 6-2. Again the first time in that competition that the player failed to defeat another in straight sets.

Djokovic`s nearest rival in the Miami Masters betting is Andy Murray. The Brit has a good record in the competition after winning the title when beating Djokovic in the final of 2009. He also scooped the gong in 2013, defeating David Ferrer 6-1, 7-6 in the tournament`s final. The world number four had previously been a beaten finalist the year before, being seen off by Djokovic 6-1, 7-6.

Murray`s Grand Slam final against Djokovic has been the undoubted highlight of his year so far, having failed to reach an ATP final on any subsequent occasion. The 6`3 Scot reached the quarter-final in both Rotterdam and in the Dubai Duty Free Championships but could not overcome Gilles Simon (4-6, 2-6) and Borna Coric (1-6, 3-6) respectively. Murray was also defeated at the hands of the world number one in the semi-final of the Indian Wells Masters (2-6, 3-6). The 27-year-old has played 20 times this year, tasting defeat on four occasions.

After a title-less opening period of the year, Murray can be backed at 9/2 (Bwin, Coral) to pick up his third Miami Masters title.

Rafael Nadal has never won the Miami Masters but is third in the betting after having finished in the runners-up position four previous times. His first second place finish was back in 2005, falling to Roger Federer in five sets (2-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-1). The Spaniard was also the losing finalist in 2008, 2011 and last year.

Nadal has already picked up a trophy this year after taking home the Buenos Aires Open. The 28-year-old defeated Juan Monaco in straight sets (6-4, 6-1) in the clay tournament`s final. Otherwise, Nadal`s best finish of the season was when losing out in the semi-final of the Rio De Janeiro Open to Fabio Fognini (6-1, 2-6, 5-7). Five-foot-10 Fognini would lose out to Ferrer in the final (2-6, 3-6).

Bwin`s 13/2 says that Nadal can triumph in one of the US` premiere tournaments for the first time. Elsewhere, 2010 and 2013 finalists Tomas Berdych and David Ferrer are available at prices of 28/1 (Bwin) and 40/1 (Coral, Bwin) respectively.

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Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (24/03/2015) but are subject to change.

24/03/2015     © Frixo 2024

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