Thursday tennis acca tips: Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz to set another edition of enthralling rivalry

The anticipation of another big match clash between Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz highlights the upcoming Miami Open action.

Zverev will have to get beyond Fabian Marozsan to book himself a place in the Miami Open last four.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz faces a stern challenge to his bid to complete the Sunshine Double.

Here we make our picks for upcoming matches on the ATP Tour at the Miami Open as well as WTA Tour action at the same event and in San Luis.

ATP Miami

ATP Miami Open: Alexander Zverev vs Fabian Marozsan | Pick: Zverev

ATP Miami Open: Carlos Alcaraz vs Grigor Dimitrov | Pick: Alcaraz

WTA Miami Open: Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka | Pick: Rybakina

WTA Miami Open: Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Danielle Collins | Pick: Alexandrova

WTA San Luis Open: Anna Bondar vs Francesca Jones | Pick: Bondar

WTA San Luis Open: Marina Stakusic vs Nadia Podoroska | Pick: Podoroska

WTA San Luis Open: Anca Alexia Todoni vs Julia Riera | Pick: Riera

WTA San Luis Open: Suzan Lamens vs Linda Fruhvirtova | Pick: Fruhvirtova

 

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ATP Miami Open: Alexander Zverev vs Fabian Marozsan

Fabian Marozsan has already picked up the big scalps of Holger Rune and Alex De Minaur to book his last eight match.

Alexander Zverev will need to guard against becoming another to continue what has been a good start to the year for the controversial German star.

There are 52 rankings places between them but Zverev will not want to underestimate his foe one bit.

This will be the first meeting between the players which could act as an equaliser but Zverev is expected to prevail.

 

ATP Miami Open: Carlos Alcaraz vs Grigor Dimitrov

Carlos Alcaraz leads his rivalry with Grigor Dimitrov 3-1 but the Bulgarian did win the last time they met.

Dimitrov's sole triumph came in Shanghai last season when he beat Alcaraz in the fourth round.

That win sparked a great run of form for Dimitrov and he is two wins away from securing a top-ten return in Miami.

Alcaraz is on a nine-match winning streak and is on course to secure back-to-back Masters titles.

 

WTA Miami Open: Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka

Elena Rybakina is the highest-ranked player left in the Miami Open field but faces a former world No 1 in Victoria Azarenka in her semi-final match.

Rybakina holds a 3-0 edge over Azarenka in their head-to-head and shaded the Belarussian in Dubai.

Azarenka had to retire at a set all in Dubai and might feel that she gave up a chance to defeat Rybakina.

Rybakina has faced Azarenka at reasonably regular intervals and got the better of her each time.

 

WTA Miami Open: Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Danielle Collins

Sentimental favourite Danielle Collins takes on tournament dark horse Ekaterina Alexandrova in the other semi-final.

Alexandrova and Collins have not met before and the Russian holds the rankings edge.

Alexandrova has notched back-to-back top-ten wins by seeing off Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula to prove her quality.

Collins is out to secure a massive send-off in Miami having confirmed this will be her last season but that might not be enough.

 

WTA San Luis Open: Anna Bondar vs Francesca Jones

Former top 50 player Anna Bondar takes on Francesca Jones in a first-ever WTA Tour meeting in the last 16 in San Luis.

Jones was a finalist at the W35 Hammamet event while Bondar went down in Miami Open qualifying.

Bondar showed resilience to come back from being bagelled by Tatjana Maria to start her first round match.

Jones beat a higher-ranked player to start but could find Bondar's experience a challenge.

 

WTA San Luis Open: Marina Stakusic vs Nadia Podoroska

Marina Stakusic and Nadia Podoroska clash for the first time in singles action.

Stakusic has been on the tour since 2019 but is playing in just her 26th match on clay.

Podoroska by comparison has piles of experience on the red stuff across her ten-year career.

Podoroska has played more than 300 matches on clay with 208 wins on the surface.

 

WTA San Luis Open: Anca Alexia Todoni vs Julia Riera

Anca Alexia Todoni and Julia Riera contest yet another first-time meeting in San Luis, Mexico.

Todoni has come through qualifying and played six sets of tennis already.

Argentina's Riera straightforwardly dealt with Nuria Blanco to win passage to the last 16.

Riera looks like the player to back in this encounter after she snapped a four-match losing streak with her first-round win.

 

WTA San Luis Open: Suzan Lamens vs Linda Fruhvirtova

Suzan Lamens stands between Linda Fruhvirtova and another WTA Tour quarter-final.

There isn't a huge gap between these two players on the rankings and the win-loss comparison is deceptive.

Fruhvirtova has lost more but she has also played in bigger events than her rival here.

This will be the first meeting between these players and Fruhvirtova should carry the day.