Day 4 at the WTA 1000 in Miami is absolutely stacked. On the line-up, we have four Top 20 players up against very tough competition, including Maria Sakkari’s clash with former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, and this year’s Dubai champ Barbora Krejcikova’s battle against big-hitting Aliaksandra Sasnovich. As always at LWOT, we’ve tried to predict the outcomes of these matches.
WTA Miami Day 4 Predictions
Veronika Kudermetova vs Marketa Vondrousova
Head-to-head: Kudermetova 1-0 Vondrousova
This is some second round match! With Marketa Vondrousova ranked outside the Top 100, there was always going to be a seeded player with an unfortunate draw. The Czech isn’t easy to beat anywhere in the world so this should be a very tricky match for Veronika Kudermetova.
The world #11 has a better chance that most, however. Free points are essential against Vondrousova and Kudermetova can get them in these conditions if she’s serving well enough. Despite a few discouraging losses this season, big wins scattered in between suggest she still has the level that broke her into the top 10 last season.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3.
Barbora Krejcikova vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: Krejcikova 2-0 Sasnovich
Don’t underestimate Aliaksandra Sasnovich. It’s difficult to know what’s missing from the Belarusian’s game at first glance. When she puts it all together, she has the potential to upset anybody–it just doesn’t come together as consistently as her top 20 peers.
Barbora Krejcikova may get caught off guard as Sasnovich lights up for a set but it’s hard to doubt the Dubai champion in the long run in these conditions.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 3
Madison Brengle vs Donna Vekic
Head-to-head: 1-1
Donna Vekic had a pretty bizarre loss in Indian Wells to Lesia Tsurenko but don’t be fooled, she is definitely back to playing Top 20 tennis again. Her run to the Australian Open quarterfinals was backed up with an excellent run to the title in Monterrey, not the easiest of tournaments to win in the volatile conditions there.
This match against Madison Brengle should go similarly to their encounter last month in Linz–Vekic’s game was too much for Brengle to handle and she went down in two comfortable sets.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Maria Sakkari vs Bianca Andreescu
Head-to-head: 1-1
In spite of the doubters, Maria Sakkari continued where she left off in 2022. She’s won the joint-third most matches this year, gritting her teeth to come out on top repeatedly against tough opposition (Kvitova, Pliskova, Garcia, Vekic, Zheng).
There are very few that would expect this to be a washout either way. Both of Bianca Andreescu’s meetings with Sakkari have been epics, with four of their six sets played going to tiebreaks. This one should be no different with the Canadian’s level creeping slowly upwards. Sakkari clenched her fist through four consecutive deciding set victories in a row at Indian Wells–she’s been here plenty this season and will be up for the fight.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
