Day 2 action at the WTA Masters 1000 in Miami will wrap up the first round on the and determined who gets to face off against the seeds in their next matches. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who’s going out in the opener?
WTA Miami Day 2 Predictions
Clara Tauson vs Zhang Shuai
Head-to-head: first meeting
After a breakout season last year, moving up over 100 ranking spots to No. 44, Tauson has been consistent in 2022 but struggling to get on a run. The 19-year-old has won her opener at every tournament she has played but hasn’t managed to win twice in her last three events. Zhang has been much more up and down, beating Dayana Yastremska to take the title in Lyon but suffering first-round losses at six of the eight tournaments she has played. Combined with the fact that Zhang is winless in Miami since 2017, I believe Tauson will win in her Miami debut.
Prediction: Tauson in 2
Alexandra Eala vs Madison Brengle
Head-to-head: first meeting
The 16-year-old Filipino player is entering her second WTA main draw, having a successful debut in Cluj last August against Paula Ormaechea. The Junior World No. 2 will have an interesting challenge in the form of Brengle, a difficult player to face as she is adept at disrupting her opponents’ rhythm. The 31-year-old has got some good wins this year, taking out Anisimova in Dubai and getting a retirement in the final game from Dayana Yastremska in Melbourne. Brengle’s experience has to be a favorite, though it will be good to see what Eala can do on this level.
Prediction: Brengle in 2
Sloane Stephens vs Panna Udvardy
Head-to-head: first meeting
Despite getting past the first round only once this year, it’s been a decent year for Stephens as she won a title in Guadalajara and took three-set losses to Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka. After a 74-win season primarily on the ITF circuit took Udvardy to the Top 100, the Hungarian has been struggling. Winless in 2022, Udvardy has lost all six matches she has played this season, including losses to doubles specialist Giuliana Olmos in Sydney and No. 541 Ashlyn Krueger in Indian Wells last week. Stephens is a very strong favorite, Udvardy taking this match would be a real shock.
Prediction: Stephens in 2
Karolina Muchova vs Tereza Martincova
Head-to-head: Muchova 1-0 Martincova
Finishing the list off with an intriguing Czech derby. Muchova is starting her season here, having not played since last year’s US Open due to an abdominal injury that prevented her from defending an Australian Open semifinal run. The 25-year-old has suffered a drop in the rankings, going from No. 32 to No. 74, but was largely overshadowed by the far more shocking drops of Sofia Kenin and Naomi Osaka. Martincova is working hard to establish herself in the Top 50, currently with a 6-6 record and only one first-round loss. Muchova has won their only official previous meeting at a $25k in Gyor in 2016, though Martincova won their last match at the unofficial LiveScore Cup Prague that took place in June 2020. Muchova is the superior talent and though she is surrounded with question marks after seven months out I think she will win in a close match.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
