The WTA Miami Open is the only 96-player tournament of the season right now, due to the postponement/cancellation of Indian Wells. While the men don’t start until Wednesday, the women kick off the main draw on Tuesday, with 12 great matchups. We predict all of them for you. Four are in this article, and the other eight are in two separate articles–one features Shelby Rogers vs Madison Brengle, and the other headlines Lauren Davis vs Kaia Kanepi.
WTA Miami Day 1 Predictions
Anastasia Potapova vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Potapova has been a revelation recently, really coming into her game. The Russian teenager was impressive at the Australian Open, and recently pulled off a tremendous run in Dubai. Tomljanovic is more established and has a more versatile game, but it’s hard to know where she is confidence-wise right now. Meanwhile, Potapova is playing the best tennis of her career and improving. She moves on.
Prediction: Potapova in 2
Rebecca Peterson vs Xinyu Wang
Wang has been improving and is playing much better tennis than her ranking–at #150 in the world–would indicate. Peterson, though, is consistent, playing well, and likes the hard courts. The Swede should be able to advance.
Prediction: Peterson in 3
Magda Linette vs Robin Montgomery
Montgomery is a talented teenager with a bright future. This wild card is probably a bit too early for her, though, and Linette is a bad draw. Montgomery will make waves on tour, but she’s not there yet. That’s no disrespect–not every 16-year-old can be as good as Coco Gauff.
Prediction: Linette in 2
Zarina Diyas vs Venus Williams
Williams likes playing on American soil. I mean, she likes playing anywhere, but she’s shown an affinity for her home country later in her career. Diyas is an inconsistent but talented player who definitely can beat the American, but the Kazakh hasn’t been in the best of form recently. I think Williams moves on, though it will of course depend on her health right now.
Prediction: Williams in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
