Fresh off a two-hour victory over Alex de Minaur in the fourth round, first-time Miami Open quarter-finalist Matteo Berrettini takes on Taylor Fritz in Thursday's last eight, seeking only his third-ever Masters 1000 semi-final.
The Italian, who was winless at the Florida-based event before this year's tournament, has claimed three wins in a row to set up a fifth encounter with the home player, whom he has never defeated on the ATP Tour.
Match preview
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Yet to drop a set in Miami, Fritz has progressed to a second quarter-final in the second leg of the Sunshine Double, aiming to reach his first semi-final in Florida.
The world No. 4 has had an indifferent 2025, only reaching one quarter-final this season at Delray Beach in February before the first pair of Masters tournaments this year.
Into another last-eight contest, the third seed aims to improve his result from 2023, when he lost to eventual runner-up Carlos Alcaraz, aiming for a fifth straight victory over Berrettini.
Fritz's latest triumph over lucky loser Adam Walton marked the American's 13th win this year, bringing his season record to 13-5, while the third seed aims to reach a career-best semi-final in his home tournament.
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The 27-year-old faces an Italian opponent still energised after preventing another De Minaur turnaround in Florida in a see-saw second set, clinching a 6-3, 7-6(7) success on Tuesday.
Having entered this year's tournament without a victory, Berrettini was likely just eager to end his 0-3 record at the Miami Masters before his second-round match with Hugo Gaston.
However, the Italian 10-time ATP champion has secured two additional victories since a comeback win against Gaston, eliminating Zizou Bergs and Australia's No. 1 player to find himself among the elite eight at this event for the first time.
Having not reached this stage at a Masters tournament since 2021 in Madrid, where he advanced to the title match at the clay court 1000-level event, and not since 2019 on hard courts following a semi-final run in Shanghai, Berrettini's progress in Florida has been notable.
By defeating De Minaur, the former world No. 6 has clinched three wins in a row for the first time this season, and the 29th seed aims for four consecutive triumphs and a 10th victory to improve his 9-6 record in 2025 at Fritz's expense.
Tournament so far
Taylor Fritz:
First round: Bye
Second round: vs. Lorenzo Sonego 7-6[2] 6-3
Third round: vs. Denis Shapovalov 7-5 6-3
Round of 16: vs. Adam Walton 6-3 7-5
Matteo Berrettini:
First round: Bye
Second round: vs. Hugo Gaston 4-6 6-3 6-3
Third round: vs. Zizou Bergs 6-4 6-4
Round of 16: vs. Alex de Minaur 6-3 7-6[7]
Head To Head
US Open (2024) - Second round: Fritz 6-3 7-6(1) 6-1
United Cup (2023) - Final - Fritz 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6)
ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells (2021) - Round of 32 - Fritz 6-4 6-3
Davis Cup (2019) - Round robin - Fritz 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-2
While Fritz's four victories over Berrettini have been on hard courts, one has gone the distance, and another two-set win for the American lasted over two hours before the fourth seed claimed both tiebreaks.
However, the Italian's disappointing 1-8 record against top-10 players entering a fifth match-up with Fritz highlights the world No. 30's struggles against the elite.
Nevertheless, Berrettini's only victory in the ongoing sequence was against Novak Djokovic in Doha, and the 28-year-old seeks his second victory in three against that elite group.
We say: Fritz to win in three sets
Although Fritz is unbeaten in four against Berrettini, winning three in a row in straight sets, those wins have not been as straightforward as the outcomes suggest.
While the fourth seed is not expected to have it easy on Thursday, the American player, whose serve has been nearly impenetrable in Miami, could edge the quarter-final match in three to set up a semi-final against Alexander Zverev, Arthur Fils or Jakub Mensik.
