Mirra Andreeva, Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek all in action: Miami, Day 6 Preview

Novak Djokovic vs. Camilo Ugo Carabelli

Ugo Carabelli has been the luckiest—and hardest-working—loser in tennis the past couple of months. In Rio in February, the Argentine lost in qualifiers, but made it into the main draw after another player pulled out. By week’s end, he had reached his first 500 semifinal. The next week in Santiago, he made another semi. In Miami, he went the Lucky Loser route again. This time he has made the most of it by beating two Americans, Brandon Holt and Alex Michelsen, in three-set comebacks.

All of that has taken the 25-year-old dirt-baller to a career-high ranking of No. 61, and a meeting with Novak Djokovic in the third round of a Masters 1000 on hard courts.

Read more: Novak Djokovic: It’s tough to compare eras in GOAT debate

Will this be the end of his “lucky” run? Djokovic is a six-time champion in Miami, but as intimidating as that sounds, Carabelli will also know that he hasn’t been his usual self in 2025. On Friday, Djokovic beat Rinky Hijikata, but the second set went to a tiebreaker. If Carabelli can bring his scrappy clay game to bear on these courts, and make Djokovic hit a ton of balls, he could get under the old guy’s craw. Winner: Djokovic

Mirra Andreeva vs. Amanda Anisimova

Will the Andreeva bubble ever burst? After back-to-back wins at WTA 1000s in Dubai and Indian Wells, I expected her to show some signs of weariness, either mental or physical, when she got to Miami. Instead, she was as sharp as ever in a 6-0, 6-2 opening-round win over Veronika Kudermetova. A Sunshine Double at 17 suddenly doesn’t sound so far-fetched.

But if there’s an early-round opponent who can derail the Andreeva train with her power, it might be Anisimova. When the 17th-ranked American makes clean contact, even the long-limbed Russian, who likes playing defense, is going to struggle to get the ball back. On her good days, Anisimova’s pace can make it tough for anyone to impose her own game.

The two have never played. Obviously, Andreeva, who is 20-3 in 2025, is in peak form and has confidence to spare. But Anisimova has also won a title this season, in Doha, and is 10-4 on the year. Andreeva is the better all-around player with the much-higher career ceiling, but Anisimova will take her shots. Winner: Andreeva

Read more: How Mirra Andreeva's coach Conchita Martinez keeps teen star grounded

Iga Swiatek vs. Elise Mertens

Since 2022, Swiatek has always won a title or two by this point in the season, and is rounding into Roland Garros form. This time we’re still waiting for the unbeatable version of Iga to stick around for an entire tournament. There have been flashes of her over the past month—until she has run into Mirra Andreeva.

Swiatek played well enough in her Miami opener to beat Caroline Garcia 6-2, 7-5, but Mertens may offer a tougher test. The 29-year-old hits hard and flat and could potentially rush or handcuff Swiatek on her forehand side. A nine-time singles title winner, Mertens is also one of the WTA’s more obstinate competitors. She doesn’t cave mentally, no matter what the score is.

The two have played once, on clay last year, and Swiatek won in straight sets. The quicker hard courts in Miami should give Mertens a better chance of making her presence felt in the rallies. As always with Swiatek, the first few games will matter. If Mertens can avoid an early break, keep some doubt in Iga’s mind, make it a dogfight, she’ll have a chance when the clutch moments come. Winner: Swiatek