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Miami Open Favorite: Naomi Osaka, Sloane Stephens, or Serena Williams?

By Harry Floyd

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26: Naomi Osaka of Japan serves in her Women's Singles Final match against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic on day 13 of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26: Naomi Osaka of Japan serves in her Women's Singles Final match against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic on day 13 of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images for Tennis Australia) /
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The 2019 Miami Open is set to feature every single one of the premier players in women’s singles tennis. Who will take the title?

Naomi Osaka is primed to enter the 2019 Miami Open as a possible favorite for the title. In her way, however, will be countless other tennis stars. All of the WTA Tour’s top 75 ranked singles players are scheduled to play the tournament in March.

Defending champion Sloane Stephens is amongst those who Osaka has to look out for in Miami. Last year, she defeated Latvian tennis star Jelena Ostapenko in the finals. Then, there is of course American tennis legend and eight-time Miami Open champion Serena Williams.

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HERE is a look at the previous champions at the Miami Open. Williams stands out in the field with her eight titles. She went on a three-year streak between 2013-2015 most recently. After reaching the quarterfinals this year at the Australian Open, she has proven that she is still a favorite anytime she steps onto the court.

We may have to give Williams the edge over both Australian Open champ Osaka and the defending Miami Open champ in Stephens. Experience at the event, combined with her strong play as of late, makes Williams at least on par with Osaka if not better right now.

Playing the underdog role could work in Osaka’s favor though. The Australian Open champion is now a two-time Grand Slam winner, having defeated Williams at the 2018 US Open before her win at Melbourne Park earlier this year. She may be the new world number one in women’s singles tennis, but Osaka can at least act like an underdog heading into the Miami Open. Even if it’s not necessarily the case, considering others such as Stephens or Williams to be the player to beat in Miami could be a source of motivation for Osaka.

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Action at the 2019 Miami Open goes from March 18 through to March 31. Osaka, Stephens, and Williams are just three of the many players vying for glory. Several other former champions will be in the field as the WTA expects all 75 of its top players in women’s singles at the event. Stay tuned to see if either of these three, or another, will standout even more before the tournament begins. As for Osaka in the rest of 2019, here is what we should look for from her.

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