Miami Masters 2023: J.J. Wolf vs Bublik Prediction, Odds & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Miami Masters first-round match featuring J.J. Wolf vs Alexander Bublik on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

J.J. Wolf vs Alexander Bublik Match Preview

After blowing hot and cold in recent weeks, J.J. Wolf needs a result on Wednesday at the Miami Masters to stay in the top 50. Can he extend his perfect record against Alexander Bublik?

J.J. Wolf had the best start to a season since turning pro, reaching the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time at this year’s Australian Open. Although he lost to compatriot Ben Shelton in the fourth round, Wolf was quick to follow up that result with a semifinal run in Dallas, where he earned his first top-20 win of 2023 by beating Frances Tiafoe. Surprisingly, his form has since gone downhill, and finds himself sweating on the ropes as he clings to his top 50 ranking. He must beat Alexander Bublik in the opening round of the Miami Masters to keep his ranking afloat in the top 50.

Alexander Bublik, for his part, looks to have turned his season around. Bublik infamously started the year with eight straight defeats and even relinquished his Montpellier crown which he won last year at the first hurdle at the hands of Gregoire Barrere. But he got his revenge against the Frenchman in Marseille where he picked his first win of the season and went on to make the semis, losing to eventual champion Hubert Hurkacz. Bublik’s most recent appearance came at the Phoenix Challenger where he lost in the last eight to Jan-Lennard Struff.

J.J. Wolf vs Alexander Bublik Prediction and Pick

J.J. Wolf comfortably leads Alexander Bublik 2-0 in their head-to-head, winning their last showdown in Florence last autumn. Wolf has been surprisingly subpar in recent weeks, losing three matches in a row coming to the Miami Masters. What is rather strange, the American lost all those matches as the odds-on favorite including a bizarre three-set loss to Marton Fucsovics in Indian Wells. With Bublik’s recent upturn in form, Wolf might need to dig deep to get that elusive first win since mid-February.