Djokovic Faces Dolgopolov in Miami Fourth Round

Novak Djokovic will be hoping to collect his fifth Miami Masters title this year but will have to try to progress through to the tournament`s quarter-final stage by beating 26-year-old Alexandr Dolgopolov. Whilst the Serbian world number one is the competition`s reigning champion, he also claimed the prize in 2007, 2011 and 2012. The 27-year-old was a beaten finalist back in 2009, losing out to Andy Murray in straight sets (6-2, 7-5).

Dolgopolov has never reached the Miami Masters final but recorded his best ever finish last year when reaching the quarter-final stage of the tournament. Seeded 22nd, the Ukrainian received a bye into the competition`s second round before beating all of Jarkko Nieminen (6-4, 6-2), Dusan Lajovic (3-6, 6-0, 7-6) and third seed Stanislas Warinka (6-4, 3-6, 6-1). The Kiev-born star would eventually lose out to Tomas Berdych in the last 16 (6-4, 7-6).

Whilst Djokovic has run out the winner over Dolgopolov three times, the pair have only met on a hard court surface once, this being back in the 2011 renewal of the US Open. The Serb took the first set on a tie-break before picking up six games to his opponent`s four in the second set and six games to Dolgopolov`s two in the final set. paddy Power`s 1/4 says that the number one seed will take this encounter in straight sets once again. Otherwise, bet365`s 12/5 says that there will be a tie-break in the match with Coral`s 11/2 the price on a tie-break coming in the first set once again.

Djokovic would take home his first and, so far, only US Open championship following his fourth round victory over Dolgopolov. The Belgrade-born star would get the better of Spaniard Rafael Nadal in four sets, running out the 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 winner.

Indeed, it is Djokovic who is the favourite to take down his rival by any means necessary. The 6`2" star is available at the best price of 1/18 (paddy Power) to run out the winner against his opponent tonight. Having never beaten the Serb, Dolgopolov can be backed at the best price of 12/1. This price is available at both bet365 and Betvictor. As Djokovic is seeded first in this year`s Miami Masters, he received a bye into the second stage of the tournament. The 50-time ATP title winner needed three sets to see off Slovenia`s Martin Klizan, dropping the second set by seven games to five after recording a bagel victory in the first. Klizan could only manage to pick up one game in the final set. Steve Darcis also fell victim to a 6-0 defeat in the first set of the third round but things didn`t get much better for him as he also lost the second by seven sets to five. bet365`s 22/1 says that Djokovic will be able to record his third 6-0 first set result of the tournament against Dolgopolov tonight.

The Ukrainian, who at a year Djokovic`s junior has just won two ATP titles, has beaten all of Ricardas Berankis (6-4, 6-1), 16th seed Tommy Robredo (6-7, 6-3, 7-5) and Thomaz Bellucci (7-5, 6-4). Whilst betfair`s 33/1 says that Dolgopolov will be able to beat the world number one in straight sets, his best chance of winning seems to be in three sets. bet365`s 25/1 says that the world number 65 will be able to take down the reigning champion by two sets to one.

Whilst Djokovic has taken home both the Australian Open and the Indian Wells Masters this year, Dolgopolov exited at the quarter-final stage in both the Delray Beach tournament and the Acapulco Open to record his best finishes of the year.

Go To bet365

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31/03/2015     © Frixo 2024