Zverev defeats Fearnley, faces challenging opponent Thompson

Alexander Zverev, currently ranked World No. 2, is preparing to face Australia's Jordan Thompson at the Miami Open. Zverev, 27, recently won against Britain's Jacob Fearnley in a straightforward match, finishing with scores of 6-2, 6-4. This matchup comes after Zverev's unexpected early exit at Indian Wells, where he lost to Tallon Griekspoor. Zverev and Thompson have faced each other seven times, with Thompson winning five of those matches. Despite Zverev's higher ranking, he has struggled against Thompson in the past. Their most recent meeting was at the Japan Open in 2023, where Thompson won decisively, 6-3, 6-4. After that match, Zverev expressed disappointment in his own performance, saying he played "horrible" while acknowledging Thompson played well. Thompson, on the other hand, described finding his rhythm during the match. He noted that he overcame early challenges and adapted his game style, which Zverev struggled to handle. In one of their rare encounters where Zverev came out on top, he defeated Thompson at the Canadian Open last August. The match ended controversially when Thompson's cap fell during a point, leading to confusion about the play. Thompson argued the point should be replayed, but the umpire disagreed. This incident added tension to their dynamic, marking another chapter in their competitive history.