First round action in Miami will continue on Thursday – weather permitting, of course. Gabriel Diallo will take on Yibing Wu, while Marin Cilic begins his doubleheader with Alexei Popyrin at the other end of the net.
Gabriel Diallo vs. (WC) Yibing Wu
Diallo and Wu will meet for the first time in their careers when they compete in the first round of the Miami Open on Thursday. Canada’s 37th-ranked Sunshine Double is off to a good start. In dire need of a boost with just a 2-6 record in 2026 coming into Indian Wells, Diallo took out in-form Mattia Bellucci and world number 17 Andrey Rublev before falling to Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3.
Due to constant physical problems, Wu has never been able to sustain any kind of intensity during his career. The world No. 118 from China has been inconsistent so far this year. He reached the quarterfinals in Acapulco as a qualifier but lost in Delray Beach in the qualifiers and is coming off an upset loss in the first round of the Cap Cana Challenger to world number 236 Andres Andrade in straight sets. Diallo has more momentum in this matchup and should be able to work his way into the second round.
Pick: Diallo at 3
Marin Cilic vs. Alexei Popyrin
Cilic certainly isn’t the player he was when he won the 2014 US Open and peaked at No. 3 in the rankings, but he’s turning back the clock with some sensational performances over the past few seasons. The 37-year-old is healthy again and back in the top 50 (he’s currently 49). Cilic is 6-5 so far in 2026 with a third-round appearance at the Australian Open and a semifinal performance in Dallas.
First up for the Croats on Thursday is the fourth meeting with Popyrin, trailing 2-1. They met last year in Dubai, where Cilic won 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. The season has been painful for Popyrin, who is 2-7 — and 2-12 in his last 14 games since the fall of 2025. The 47-ranked Aussie has never made a big splash in Miami and that’s likely to continue.
Pick: Cilic at 2
