Men's Contenders with Most to Prove in Late Rounds of Miami Open

After the events of Indian Wells, there is plenty for Miami to live up to heading toward the business end of the tournament. There are contenders in the men's draw with significant points to be prove.

Grigor Dimitrov has been talked up more than most over the last year, but he needs to start backing up the hype with results worthy of his billing.

Milos Raonic is enjoying a strong 2015, but he's still awaiting his first title of the year. Form suggests it will be sooner rather than later.

The following slides will analyze four of the current field still left with a chance of going all the way in Florida.

David Goffin

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For some, the top 20 in the men's rankings might be enough. A sustainable career can be forged without progressing much further. You don't get that impression from David Goffin.

The fields at Scheveningen, Poznan and Tampere and Kitzbuhel were blown away in quick succession by the Belgian last year. Four wins in a row catapulted Goffin into the spotlight.

He would reach three more finals before the year was out, winning two and losing one to Roger Federer.

However, Goffin needs to find a way to rediscover that higher gear to prove last year was no fluke.

Miami would be a good place to start. He has already beaten 17-year-old prodigy Borna Coric 6-0, 6-4 and will play Jerzy Janowicz in the third round. 

For Goffin to make an impression on the top 20 this year, he will have to start making quarterfinals and beyond. If he slips back into the groove of 2014, a Grand Slam run is a genuine possibility.

Dominic Thiem

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Dominic Thiem might not win in Miami, but it's hard to bet against a player who always seems capable of achieving something special.

Of course, he already has previously done so in upsetting the odds. He shocked Ernests Gulbis and Feliciano Lopez in consecutive rounds at last year's U.S. Open, beating Lopez in three sets.

Austrians searching for a consistent representative were already sitting up and paying attention after his 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Stan Wawrinka three months earlier.

Now it's time to take the next step.

Thiem will want to prove that he is capable of putting a stuttering start to the season behind him; he has only advanced past the first round three times out of seven tournaments this year.

Another win over Lopez last week in Miami was a statement of intent. With Adrian Mannarino as his opponent in the next round, Thiem has a real opportunity to turn his intentions into something palpable. 

Grigor Dimitrov

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A comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Vasek Pospisil sets Grigor Dimitrov up with the opportunity to kick-start a slow beginning to the year.

The Bulgarian almost rose to the big occasion at the Australian Open, but Andy Murray had grown wise to his capablities after Dimitrov beat him at Wimbledon last year.

In his three tournaments since Melbourne, Dimitrov has not progressed past the round of 16, losing to Gilles Muller, Ryan Harrison and Tommy Robredo. 

Dimitrov finds himself in an unusual position. Touted by some to be the next Roger Federer, Dimitrov has made clear his intentions to win in his own way.

However, the indifferent start to the year means he isn't pulling it off either. His third-round meeting with John Isner will be crucial.

It's time for Dimitrov to shake loose the shackles of early 2015 and find some meaningful form to back up the hype. If not, Raonic, another tipped for big things and who's consistently performing well, could leave Dimitrov behind.

Milos Raonic

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That much-debated new order of players threatening to challenge the top four looks like it has a strong frontman rising to the task.

Milos Raonic is in-form and on a mission. His win over Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells felt like a significant victory. Of course, Nadal is not the force of old, but Raonic laid down a serious marker with his 4-6, 7-6 (10), 7-5 win.

The Canadian is starting to win matches consistently against players outside the top 10, with the exception of Simone Bolelli in Marseille.

Jeremy Chardy awaits Raonic in the third round, and, in this form, you wouldn't go against him.

A serious run or, even better, a title would cement Raonic's status as a serious challenger for a Grand Slam this year.