WTA Miami: Preview and Predictions

The Miami Open, played on hard courts in Florida, is the second straight Premier Mandatory event for the women! Like in Indian Wells, this means that if you are ranked highly enough, YOU HAVE TO PLAY! It’s a tough transition for the players, who have little time to adapt from the desert air on the west coast to the humid and blustery conditions in Miami. Therefore, expect upsets! Here are my predictions as to who I think will adapt the best through to the quarter finals.

(Seed)

1st Quarter: (1) Serena Williams vs (21) Garbine Muguruza

Though Serena had to withdraw before her semi final in Indian Wells with a knee injury, it seemed that the injury wasn’t too severe. Serena is a former 7 times (twice reigning) champion at the event and treats it like her home tournament. In a section of the draw that is remarkably similar to Indian Wells in the early stages, I expect Serena to have little trouble reaching the quarters. Garbine lost out in the 3rd round of Indian Wells to the in-form Karolina Pliskova, but I expect her to come through this section of the draw which is full of unpredictable players. (5) Ana Ivanovic is playing poorly and who can ever count on (27) Sabine Lisicki, even after her semi final run in Indian Wells?

2nd Quarter: Azarenka vs (6) Eugenie Bouchard

Azarenka, a former 2 time champion in Miami, is dangerously unseeded and should account for Indian Wells finalist, (20) Jelena Jankovic in the 2nd round. In what is a tough section of the draw, she may well then have to beat (15) Flavia Pennetta, the woman who took out Sharapova in Indian Wells. I think Azarenka is fit for the task and could well face (3) Simona Halep in the 4th round. As Indian Wells champion, it may seem surprising that I don’t think Halep will reach the quarters. However, all too often, the Indian Wells champion goes out early in Miami as the transition is just too tough in such a short space of time. Only two women, Steffi Graf and Kim Clijsters have won Indian Wells and Miami back to back and considering that Simona looked less than 100% in the Indian Wells final, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was a victim of an early upset. In a section full of mercurial talents, such as (10) Lucie Safarova and (17) Madison Keys, I expect Bouchard to do as she should’ve done in Indian Wells, had it not been for an epic meltdown, and reach the quarter finals!

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3rd Quarter: (12) Carla Suarez Navarro vs (16) Venus Williams

Considering Carla has been exceptionally consistent this year, it’s tough to argue against her reaching another quarter final, even if that means beating out of sorts, former champion (7) Agnieszka Radwanska. Venus is a former 3 time champion who has been playing very well this year and is well rested having boycotted Indian Wells again. Even if she has to play (23) Sam Stosur and (4) Caroline Wozniacki, I expect her to win as she, like Serena, treats this as her home event.

4th Quarter: (8) Ekaterina Makarova vs (2) Maria Sharapova

Makarova is the highest seed in the weakest part of the draw, with no real stand out to reach the quarters. If she can get past (26) Elina Svitolina and avoid ‘choking’ matches away as she did in Indian Wells, she should come through a section where (9) Andrea Petkovic is her closest threat. Sharapova had her first real disappointment of the year in Indian Wells, losing out in the 4th round. Her desire to bounce back, combined with her having lost all 5 finals she’s contested here, will make her very tough to beat this week. Her draw is very tricky though and could involve her having to beat in-form players, such as (25) Caroline Garcia and (14) Karolina Pliskova.

Next: WTA Indian Wells: Final Prediction

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