46 minutes. That’s all it took for Grigor Dimitrov to get past Yannick Hanfmann on Monday night. While that 6-1, 6-0 decimation will be difficult to replicate in the Round of 16, especially considering who’s on the other side of the net, there’s no doubt the Bulgarian would want to keep up that Round of 32 form. The player on the other side in question? Hubert Hurkacz. Dimitrov may have found his gear in Miami, but on his day, Hurkacz can get past the best of the best. So, as this thrilling match awaits, here’s everything you need to know.

Grigor Dimitrov vs Hubert Hurkacz: Preview

Dimitrov started the season on a bright note, winning the Brisbane International title. However, he suffered a shock third-round defeat at the Australian Open soon after at the hands of Nuno Borges. With runs to the finals and semifinals in the couple of tournaments that followed, Dimitrov’s form became a little inconsistent at the Indian Wells Masters.

Bowing out against Daniil Medvedev in the Round of 16, the 11th seed at the Miami Open would hope to avoid a similar fate as he goes up against Hurkacz. To get to this stage, the Bulgarian defeated Alejandro Tabilo, 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, in the Round of 64. He followed that with the 46-minute decimation that Hanfmann was on the receiving end of. But the upcoming match against the 2021 champion will likely be his toughest contest so far.

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Even though Hubert Hurkacz has had a forgettable 2024 season thus far, Miami is a tournament he loves. And counting him out is never an option. He started his season at the Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinals. Following that, his best result of the season came at the Open 13, where he made it to the semifinals. More recently, at the Indian Wells Masters, he exited the tournament in the second round, losing to Gael Monfils. But in the second leg of the Sunshine Double, he’s been looking strong.

To reach the Round of 16, the Pole overcame Alexander Shevchenko, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, in the first round. In the next, he defeated Sebastian Korda in a thrilling three-set win: 7-6, 6-7, 6-3. That said, they’ll both be gunning for a place in the quarterfinals. But how have they stacked up against each other in the past?

Dimitrov vs Hurkacz: Head-to-Head

Grigor Dimitrov and Hurkacz are seasoned tennis professionals who have excelled on the ATP Tour for many years. They have also met each other often at the tournaments. However, Dimitrov has been a clear winner in their head-to-head battles. In all four matches they played, the Bulgarian star won.

• 2021 Indian Wells Masters: Dimitrov def. Hurkacz; 3-6, 6-4, 7-6
• 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters: Dimitrov def. Hurkacz; 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
• 2023 Rotterdam Open: Dimitrov def. Hurkacz; 7-6, 7-6
• 2023 Paris Masters: Dimitrov def. Hurkacz; 6-1, 4-6, 6-4

Considering that three of these four matches have taken place on hard courts, Grigor Dimitrov will likely be the favorite going into the Round of 16 clash. But none of the matches have been a cakewalk, which means Hubert Hurkacz will give his opponent a run for his money. But can the eighth seed snag the victory?

Prediction: Dimitrov to continue his domination over Hurkacz

Coming into this match, there’s no doubt that Dimitrov will have the psychological advantage over Hurkacz, courtesy of the 4-0 head-to-head record. But given the court conditions, he may also have an advantage there. With these courts being slightly faster than the ones in Indian Wells, they suit Dimitrov’s flat game a lot more than they do Hurkacz’s topspin shot-making. The Bulgarian’s ability to change things up with his slice backhand could be a huge weapon as well.

On the other hand, Hurkacz’s biggest weapon is his serve. However, in the past two matches, he’s only managed first-serve percentages of 72 and 69. While they’re not bad figures, an increase in his second-serve numbers could allow Dimitrov to pounce. Since three of their previous matches have had at least one tiebreak, he’s held serve on most occasions. But given how their past encounters have played out, it remains unlikely that Hurkacz will be able to break his jinx against Dimitrov when they face each other in Miami.

Dimitrov will likely win the match in straight sets and continue his quest for a title in Miami. Their match will take place in Grandstand later today, and a packed crowd is expected to cheer them at the Miami Gardens.

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