Casper Ruud vs Carlos Alcaraz 4/3/22 Miami Open Tennis Picks, Predictions, Odds

Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud meet in the final of the 2022 tennis Miami Open.

Carlos Alcaraz is coming off a straight set win over Hubert Hurkacz that took 26 games to decide. In the victory, Alcaraz won 78 percent of his first serve points and 70 percent of his second serve points. Alcaraz won 75 percent of his total service points and converted on zero of his three break points. Alcaraz won a two-hour match that didn’t include a single break, and managed to win both tiebreaks. Alcaraz has lost just one set in his last five matches and has been broken once in his last five sets. Alcaraz looks to win his second title this year and his third title of his career. Alcaraz is 2-0 in previous final appearances and looks for his first Masters 1000 title. Alcaraz has won nine of his last 10 matches on hard court.

Casper Ruud is coming off a straight set win over Francisco Cerundolo that took 17 games to decide. In the victory, Ruud won 84 percent of his first serve points and 33 percent of his second serve points. Ruud won 64 percent of his total service points and converted on four of his eight break points. Ruud got 61 percent of his first serves in play and saved four of his five break points. Ruud has dropped one set this tournament, and 10 of his last 12 wins have come in straight sets. Ruud looks to win his second title of the year and his eighth title of his career. Ruud looks for his first Masters 1000 title, and he’s 0-3 in previous Masters 1000 final appearances. Ruud has won six of his last seven matches on hard court. 

These two played once, which was last year in Marbella, a match Alcaraz won in straight sets. The match took 18 games to be decided.

You could make a case for either of these guys who are playing well, and Ruud actually has the edge in terms of experience in big matches. However, Alcaraz has been on a severing tear this tournament, he’s beaten the more impressive players, and he has the mental edge knowing he beat Ruud in their only ever meeting. Alcaraz is not giving away points with his serve, and it feels like we’re seeing a breakthrough from the soon-to-be 19-year-old.

Give me Alcaraz, and I’ll take him in straight sets to shave down the price.