The semifinal matches at WTA Miami Open are all set and we have two heavyweight clashes in store. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for both semifinals, but who will book their place in the final in the Sunshine state?
WTA Miami Semifinal Predictions
Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka
Head-to-head: Bencic 4-0 Osaka
Naomi Osaka produced a high-quality display to beat Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals. She hit an impressive 25 winners to just 3 unforced errors and is steadily getting back to her best-level tennis. Bencic, for her part, has been nothing short of dominant this fortnight as she ended Daria Saville’s interest with a routine 6-1 6-2 win in just 68 minutes in the other quarterfinal match. As a result, the World No. 28 advanced into her first WTA 1000 semifinal in almost three years.
Clearly, this looks like a terrible match-up for Osaka who is a whopping 4-0 against the Swiss woman. Bencic loves the grind and is a great retriever. Osaka’s frailties in the past 12 months have been mental and she has not been able to focus on her tennis. But she looks to have completely switched off from all negativity this week as she rolled into her biggest semifinal since winning the 2021 Australian Open. Osaka has the weaponry to hurt Bencic. And if she can execute, as she had done this fortnight, I expect her to turn the tables in this rivalry.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
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Iga Swiatek vs Jessica Pegula
Head-to-head: Pegula 1-0 Swiatek
Iga Swiatek scored her 15th straight match win by beating Petra Kvitova in straight sets. And the 20-year-old is two wins away from scooping her third WTA 1000 title of the season. Jessica Pegula, like Swiatek, reached her first semifinal at the Miami Open after receiving a second retirement win. Her opponent Paula Badosa was unable to continue their quarterfinal match due to viral illness with Pegula leading 4-1.
Pegula defeated Swiatek in their only previous meeting in Washington almost three years ago. Back then, however, the Pole was still very early on in her development and rising through the ranks. Right now Swiatek is at the top of the food chain and is dismantling every opponent in her path. It would be a supreme way for the soon-to-be World No. 1 to round off a historic week and it is hard to see another result in this one.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
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