Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Miami Masters match.
Pavel Kotov is trying to make it through the qualifiers at major tournaments but has been unsuccessful so far. His upcoming opponent, Alexis Galarneau, is making his debut in Miami, which could seemingly give the Russian an advantage in experience. However, Kotov's current form raises concerns.
Pavel Kotov
This season, Pavel has already attempted ATP qualifiers five times but has failed every time. He has lost even to players of Colton Smith’s level (world No. 202). The Russian has played on the courts of Miami twice but has never advanced beyond the first round. Overall, Kotov has been struggling since the start of the season, losing 7 of his last 10 matches.
Alexis Galarneau
The Canadian is in optimal condition and has been actively preparing for the tournament. Galarneau has been competing mainly on the Challenger circuit, amassing a solid 13-7 record this year. In the Indian Wells qualifiers, he put in an impressive performance by defeating the strong French player Arthur Cazaux (6:4, 4:6, 6:4), who won a Challenger title in 2024 and reached another final.
Pavel Kotov vs Alexis Galarneau Prediction
Kotov rarely makes it through qualification rounds and has shown terrible form since the start of the season. Meanwhile, Galarneau has built solid momentum and will put up a strong fight in the Miami qualifiers. We’re backing the Canadian to cover the spread.
