The two remaining quarterfinal matches at the WTA Miami Open will be concluded on Wednesday. New World No. 1 Iga Swiatek is looking to scoop another WTA 1000 title on offer this week as she faces her first major test in the last eight. While Paula Badosa (who was usurped as Indian Wells champion) will take on Jessica Pegula for the first time. Who will reach the semifinals?
WTA Miami Quarterfinal Predictions
Paula Badosa vs Jessica Pegula
Head-to-head: first meeting
Paula Badosa has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the past 12 months. She is now a serious contender at every tournament she plays. Badosa ended the dream run of 16-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova in the Round of 16 and reached her third quarterfinal of the season (only Iga Swiatek has quarterfinal showings this year).
The Spaniard is set to lock horns for the first time against No. 16 seed Jessica Pegula. Both players are aggressive baseliners who pack a punch off both wings. Pegula has not put a foot wrong this week and is yet to drop a set en route to the last eight. The American has also navigated a slightly trickier list of opponents including Sloane Stephens and Elena Rybakina. But I suspect Badosa will be a different ball game. The fifth seed has improved by leaps and bounds in almost every aspect of her game. Her return of serve should swing this matchup in her favor.
Prediction: Badosa in 3
Iga Swiatek vs Petra Kvitova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Consistency continues to be the hallmark of Iga Swiatek’s game. The same cannot be said of Petra Kvitova who has struggled to string wins together since the turn of the year. The Czech’s most productive run of results has come this week at the Miami Open. Kvitova used her veteran know-how to dispatch the likes of Clara Burel, Lauren Davis, and Veronika Kudermetova to reach her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal this season. She will need to be at her absolute best to beat Swiatek, and that may not even be enough.
Prediction: Swiatek in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
