Jacob Fearnley Faces Alexander Zverev in High-Stakes Miami Open Rematch

MIAMI, Fla. — Jacob Fearnley is set to square off against Alexander Zverev, the world’s second-ranked tennis player, in a highly anticipated second-round matchup at the Miami Open on Saturday, March 22, 2025. This encounter follows their previous face-off at the Australian Open, where Zverev secured a straight-sets victory.

Fearnley, 23, has climbed as high as No. 77 in the PIF ATP Rankings and recently celebrated a remarkable milestone by defeating Benjamin Bonzi in the first round of the Miami Open. Despite battling with a leg injury that led to a medical time-out, Fearnley triumphed with a score of 7-6(8), 2-6, 6-4.

“That was extremely difficult; I was feeling my legs, especially my left leg twitching a little bit when I moved to a forehand,” Fearnley told Sky Sports after his win. “I just had to dig deep, and luckily, I got the break at the start of the third because I think that could have easily got away from me.”

Fearnley’s journey has been impressive. Just last October, he was ranked No. 1,893 in the world following his collegiate career at Texas Christian University. His ascent has been fueled by a series of strong performances, including his first ATP Masters 1000 victory.

Reflecting on his upcoming rematch with Zverev, Fearnley stated, “I am super happy to get to play him again. I thought I played a decent match in Australia, but he was just a little bit too good for me. To get another go at him is really cool, and it’s going to be another great learning experience.”

Although Fearnley recognizes Zverev’s formidable skill, he remains determined. “He’s the number two in the world and the number one seed, so it’s going to be an extremely difficult match,” he conceded.

In contrast, Cameron Norrie, ranked as Britain’s number two player, experienced a frustrating exit in the first round, losing to China’s Bu Yunchaokete, 6-4, 6-2. Norrie struggled throughout the match, falling short early with a broken serve that he could not recover from.

Amidst these narratives, rising star Joao Fonseca, 18, from Brazil, also made headlines by advancing past Learner Tien in a closely contested match, citing the significance of crowd support in his performance.

As Fearnley prepares to face Zverev, predictions indicate a challenging outing. According to Dimers’ advanced tennis model, Zverev holds a 67% probability of victory, backed by his experience and higher ranking. Current betting odds reflect Zverev at -625, while Fearnley stands at +400.

Yet Fearnley remains unphased by the odds. He hopes to leverage his experiences against top players to surprise his opponents. “It’s still a little bit surreal, but the more I’m surrounded by it, the more I’m getting used to it,” he noted. “But I can’t complain – it’s awesome!”

As the Miami Open progresses, fans eagerly anticipate how this matchup will unfold. With the blend of emerging talents like Fearnley and seasoned players such as Zverev, the tournament promises gripping competition at the highest level.