Andy Murray vs Lloyd Harris Prediction | Preview | H2H | Stats: Miami Open 2021

• The former World number 1, Andy Murray locks horns against the in-form Lloyd Harris in the first round of the Miami Open. 
• The winner of this match will play the seventh seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round. 

Playing on a wildcard in this tournament, Andy Murray last featured in the ATP 500 - Rotterdam Open where he lost to eventual champion, Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the pre-quarterfinals.

The Brit has a stellar record in Miami having won the tournament twice in his career. He knows the conditions in Miami in and out having trained here for the last 15 years during the off-season. Murray is playing in the ATP-1000 Masters event in South Florida for the first time since 2016.

On the other hand, Lloyd Harris made heads turn in the Dubai Open by reaching the finals last week. Coming through qualifying, the South African fought hard past a tough draw defeating some big names like Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori, and Denis Shapovalov. 

Despite losing his maiden ATP-500 final to the Russian Aslan Karatsev in straight sets, Harris displayed his full potential and also reached a career-high ranking of 52. Since the start of the 2021 season, Lloyd has moved 38 spots up the rankings.

Head to Head Record

This is the first meeting between Andy Murray and Lloyd Harris on the ATP Tour. 

Some ruthless records of Andy Murray in the history of the Miami Masters

"I want to make sure I get on the court with as many top players as possible in Miami, and I expect to perform much better on the court, I like the conditions here, I have not played much outdoors in recent months, so that is why I am trying to get out there early to try and adjust to the conditions a bit," said Murray quite confident of putting up a good show in the Miami Open. 

How Andy Murray and Lloyd Harris have fared in the 2021 season so far

Andy Murray vs Lloyd Harris: Game Analysis

The hot and humid conditions in Miami will suit Murray's playing style. He generally opts for an attacking serve with a short swing and returns his shots with power and poise to unsettle his opponents. 

Being a counterpuncher, his backhand slice and cross-court forehand will help him control the rallies from the baseline. The Brit can also play smart passing shots and reflex volleys on the run. 

Lloyd Harris is in peak form right now and his confidence will be sky-high after a dream run in Dubai. The South African can get a lot of free points by smashing aces in fast conditions. 

It adds more dimension to his serve as he can finish his service games quickly. Having played a record 12 hours and 20 minutes in 8 matches in Dubai, it remains to be seen if Harris maintains his competitive streak in Miami. 

Lloyd Harris must have enough energy in his tank ahead of a grueling battle against Andy Murray who can test him severely in the long rallies. Harris can never fearless tennis even against the big players and can make strong comebacks even in precarious situations.

Andy Murray will look to get some form as the World number 119 plots an ambitious comeback to get back to his best after undergoing hip surgery. Both the players are right-handed and have two-handed backhands and the baseline battle between Murray and Harris will be a treat to watch for the fans.

Prediction - Lloyd Harris to win in three sets

Featured Image Credits - ATP Tour