The second day of the 2022 WTA Miami Open will bring us a very interesting mixture of young talents and veterans. On the one hand, we’ve got legends like Vera Zvonareva or Kirsten Flipkens still going strong and making it through qualifying. Meanwhile, last year’s US Open juniors singles and doubles champion, Robin Montgomery, got a wild card to make her second Miami appearance. Who do you think will advance a step further in this tournament?
WTA Miami Day 2 Predictions
Robin Montgomery vs Anna Kalinskaya
Head-to-head: First meeting
Can this be a breakout win for the 17-year-old Robin Montgomery? The American won both girls’ singles and doubles at the 2021 US Open, and is now making her first steps on the professional circuit. She played competitive matches against the likes of Kaia Kanepi and Rebecca Marino lately, but wasn’t able to lock up a win in either of them. The crowd support should help her this time around, but Montgomery might still be a bit off the level required to beat a WTA Tour regular like Anna Kalinskaya.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 3
Misaki Doi vs Vera Zvonareva
Head-to-head: Zvonareva 1-0
Vera Zvonareva came into Miami with just one win in seven events this year, but she has managed to pick herself up with two wins in the qualifying draw. The 37-year-old can still produce great tennis on occasion, just not with the regularity that took her to World No. 2 over a decade ago. Last year, she beat Misaki Doi on the way to a third-round appearance at Rome. Getting through the qualifying draw can grant you plenty of match rhythm, but the two three-setters in a row might also make a dent in Zvonareva’s fitness.
Prediction: Doi in 3
Katerina Siniakova vs Rebecca Marino
Head-to-head: First meeting
Rebecca Marino’s win/loss record for the season stands at 21-5, and while most of those wins were accumulated on the ITF circuit, it’s undeniable that the Canadian has found a lot of success in her “second career” (she took a break between 2013 and 2018). She is now on the verge of getting back to the top 100 and put up two very strong performances in the qualifying draw. That included a 6-3 6-2 win over Lin Zhu, whom she had lost to in Irapuato just nine days earlier. As Katerina Siniakova has generally struggled to get going in 2022 (in singles, definitely not in doubles), this is a potential upset alert.
Prediction: Marino in 3
Viktorija Golubic vs Kirsten Flipkens
Head-to-head: Flipkens 1-0
Kirsten Flipkens owns a head-to-head win over Viktorija Golubic from Dubai two years ago, but when you’re in as late a stage of your career as the Belgian is, two years can actually make plenty of difference. Her younger rival had a phenomenal 2021 campaign and plays on the main tour regularly now, still posting decent results. Flipkens would have to rush Golubic from the ground here, and it’s been a while since she showcased such abilities on a big stage. It’s far from an auto-win, though, as the Belgian still maintains a quality level and was able to qualify for this event, getting herself familiar with the conditions.
Prediction: Golubic in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
