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The Miami Open will pick up the pace this weekend as the top seeds begin competing in the ’64 semifinals.
There are some exciting matches scheduled for the next few days, but one of the most interesting matchups will be American JJ Wolf vs. world No. 7 Andrey Rublev on Friday.
Rublev, as you might expect, is a heavy favorite at -390.
not a word Wolf vs Andrey Rublev pick: JJ Wolf (+290)
(11:00 a.m. Eastern)
Rublev is certainly a deserving favorite in this match, but there are some reasons to believe Wolfe could give the Russian some trouble this week.
For one thing, this year Rublev has played a lot of tennis all over the world.
The 27-year-old reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, then lost in Round 1 in Rotterdam, before heading to the Persian Gulf for a pair of events, one of which he reached the semi-finals.
From there, Rublev flew across the world to Indian Wells, where he lost to Cam Norrie in the round of 16.
Wolf has also been active since his fourth-round run in Melbourne, but this is his fifth consecutive championship at the North American frontier.
The Cincinnati native has yet to hit significant form, but he should enjoy the conditions in Miami, where his court speed can boost his powerful serve.
On the other hand, Miami has not really been a happy hunting ground for Rublev.
JJ WolfGetty Images
No. 6 has played this event seven times, but hasn’t been around for long on most of those trips.
Rublev has twice made it past the second round and once bounced back in the third round.
He made the finals in 2021, but is definitely not one of Rublev’s best on tour.
Wolf’s ability to serve and drop shots should pave the way for him to win some easy, cheap points and keep pace with Rublev, who has faced a tough draw of late to his credit.
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This is definitely another one, as Wolf is one of the most dangerous players in this event.
Rublev is the likely winner, but those odds are too wide and Wolfe is worth the price in front of the American crowd on Friday.
JJ Wolf vs Andrey Rublev prediction
JJ Wolf (+280, FanDuel)