Top American Taylor Fritz will face teammate and good friend Reilly Opelka in the third round of the Miami Masters. Italy’s resurgent Matteo Berrettini will be playing against Valentin Vacherot.
(6) Taylor Fritz vs. Reilly Opelka
This was a great match for Taylor Fritz. In the last six meetings, the world number 7 has lost only once to Reilly Opelka. But Fritz is in a vulnerable position right now. The American has been struggling with knee tendinitis all season. He reported that he is thinking of removing the clay time to recover.
What that means for Opelka is opportunity. There is no question that Fritz will try to win – he has a well-earned reputation for his persistence. But he is far from 100 percent physically and Opelka is a tough opponent even in the best conditions because of his monster start. As Fritz moves, I nod to Opelka.
Cheryl chose: Opelka in 3
Ricky pick: Fritz at 3
(24) Valentin Vacherot vs. Matteo Berrettini
Valentin Vacherot is ranked 25th in the world, above number 68 Matteo Berrettini. But this is a dangerous game for Vacherot. The Monegasque is officially out at the end of 2025 with a Cinderella run to the top in Shanghai and then the quarters in Paris Bercy. His results in 2026 have been the worst so far.
It’s a somewhat different story than Berrettini’s. The Italian has been struggling with injuries for years, but he seems to be healthy at last. And a healthy Berrettini is a dangerous Berrettini. He dispatched 10th seed Alexander Bublik in straight sets in the second round of Miami on Friday. On the other hand, Vacherot received a bye in the first round and defeated clay court Mariano Navone. This is a potential annoyance in the making, though it may be a level-based annoyance.
Choose Cheryl: Berrettini at 3
Ricky’s pick: Berrettini at 3
