Two of the semifinal spots at the WTA Miami Open have been filled and on Wednesday, four more WTA stars will battle to secure their place in the semis. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for both quarterfinals. But who will advance?
WTA Miami Open Quarterfinal Predictions
Maria Sakkari vs Naomi Osaka
Head-to-head: Osaka 3-1 Sakkari
It looks like Naomi Osaka will take some stopping at the WTA Miami Open. The Japanese has not lost a match yet this year (although she did withdraw ahead of her WTA Gippsland Trophy semifinal against Elise Mertens) and she has maintained her fine form so far in Florida. After a first-round bye, Osaka started her week with a solid 7-6 6-4 win over Ajla Tomljanovic, before Nina Stojanovic’s withdrawal sent her into the fourth round. There, she brushed aside Elise Mertens, winning 6-3 6-3.
But Maria Sakkari has also been playing well. The Greek will doubtless have been disappointed by some of the defeats she has suffered this season, particularly in the first round at the Australian Open, but she has looked sharp so far in Miami. Like Osaka, she received a first-round bye, beginning her campaign with a 6-2 6-3 win over Arantxa Rus. She backed that up by thrashing Liudmila Samsonova 6-1 6-0, before a battling win over Jessica Pegula took her into the quarterfinals.
However, this is not a matchup that has suited Sakkari. She has beaten Osaka, doing so in Cincinnati in 2018, but the world #2 has won their other three encounters, the most recent of which came at the WTA Brisbane International last season. That match was close enough, and Sakkari is playing well enough, to suggest that this will not be entirely straightforward for Osaka, but the Japanese has the power to hit through almost any opponent. Expect her to find a way past Sakkari.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
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Bianca Andreescu vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Head-to-head: first meeting
It has been an excellent week for Sara Sorribes Tormo, one that must surely be accounted amongst the finest of her career to date and that continues what has been an impressive month. The Spaniard, who arrived at the WTA Miami Open having won the title in Guadalajara and reached the semifinals in Acapulco, began her tournament with a battling three-set win over Bernarda Pera. She then rallied from a set down to beat Jennifer Brady before ousting Elena Rybakina, also in three.
A seesawing 6-4 0-6 6-1 win over Ons Jabeur then saw Sorribes Tormo into the quarterfinals. Waiting for her there is 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu. The Canadian had been out of action since losing in the semifinals at the WTA Phillip Island, but she has made an impressive return to competitive tennis so far in Miami, picking up wins over Tereza Martincova, Amanda Anisimova and the in-form Garbine Muguruza and will be the favourite heading into the last-eight clash.
But Sorribes Tormo should not be underestimated. The 24-year-old has proven herself a very determined competitor and the relatively slow, gritty courts at the WTA Miami Open appear to suit her game. She possesses relatively little power, but covers the court excellently and she is not short of court-craft, with her sliced backhand a particularly effective weapon. Still, if Andreescu can go up through the gears, the Canadian should be able to overpower her opponent.
Prediction: Andreescu in 3
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