The star power on display at the Miami Open dimmed with Serena Williams’ withdrawal from the Miami Open due to a knee injury. Chinese #1 Wang Qiang, however, will not be complaining about the American’s absence, as she moves in to the fourth round in Williams’ stead. But even without the 23-time Major champion, day five in the Sunshine State should see no shortage of great tennis as, amongst others, the hard-hitting Danielle Collins and defending champion Sloane Stephens take to the court. But who will join Wang in the last 16?
Wang Yafan vs Danielle Collins
Head-to-head: first meeting
Wang Yafan earned her first top ten win by eliminating Elina Svitolina in the second round in Miami. China’s fourth best broke the Svitolina serve four times to end the Ukrainian’s challenge. It is a win that will surely only add to her belief, particularly after she won her first title in Acapulco last month. And with that belief wedded to the undeniable talent Wang possesses, she will pose a formidable threat to Danielle Collins of USA. Indeed, Collins will surely need to find the same form which took her to the semifinals at the Miami Open last season if she hopes to progress.
In Collins’ opening match against 15-year-old American Whitney Osuigwe, she came out looking short of focus, but just about managed to claim the first set in a tiebreak. Thereafter, she was in complete control, blasting through Osuigwe in the second set to wrap up a 7-6 6-0 win. That impressive mentality, a willingness to dig deep and find a path to victory, should stand her in good stead against Wang. The Chinese will provide a real challenge and expect Collins to have some tough moments. But the swaggering American should ultimately have too much. Indeed, another run to the semifinals looks very possible for the University of Virginia alum.
Prediction: Collins in two
Embed from Getty Images
Polona Hercog vs Simona Halep
Head-to-head: Hercog 1-0 Halep
Simona Halep’s new coach, Daniel Dobre, is obviously helping the Romanian. Perhaps most importantly by keeping her from engaging in the sort of destructive negativity that has proved to be her undoing in the past. Dobre has worked with the former world #1 before and clearly knows the Halep game, warts and all. She certainly looked more at ease on court than she has in recent months in dismissing Taylor Townsend 6-3 6-1, a match many expected to be more competitive. But when Halep is at the top of her game, precious few can find a way through.
That’s the unenviable task at hand for Slovenia’s Polona Hercog. While her return of serve was impressive in her second-round victory over Misaki Doi of Japan, Hercog will need much more than that to upend the second seed. Maybe Hercog will remember how she beat Halep in 2009 and draw upon that experience. But Halep has improved considerably in the decade since and, as a result, that experience probably won’t help Hercog fend off a controlled and confident Halep.
Prediction: Halep in two
Embed from Getty Images
Tatjana Maria vs Sloane Stephens
Head-to-head: Maria 0-1 Stephens
Sloane Stephens made light work of Tatjana Maria in their only previous meeting, which came in Cincinnati last August, losing only five games. Whilst Stephens has had a tough go of things so far in 2019, the fans at her hometown tournament have offered their vocal support to the defending Miami Open champion. And Stephens looks to be responding, as she searches for the level of play which led her to the 2018 championship. She certainly had far too much for Ons Jabeur, thrashing the Tunisian 6-2 6-3 in second-round action.
But Germany’s Maria has been in impressive form in her own right so far at the Miami Open. She opened her account with a convincing 6-1 6-4 win over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova before recording another straight-sets win in the second round against Italy’s 29th seed Camila Giorgi. However, Stephens should have the defensive skills to negate Maria’s net-rushing attack. Provided she doesn’t dwell too long on any errors and missed chances, the last 16 should be well-within reach for the fourth seed.
Prediction: Stephens in two
Embed from Getty Images
Anastasija Sevastova vs Yulia Putintseva
Head-to-head: Sevastova 2-1 Putintseva
In this third round matchup, two out-of-sorts players, hoping to return to their A game, will clash. But Yulia Putintseva, who has had a miserable start to the year, did impress in taking out the in-form, if weary-looking, Belinda Bencic in her second round match. But one does rather suspect that if Bencic had been at the top of her game, the outcome would have been much different. In that match, Putintseva won only 66% of her service points – a stat which will need drastic improvement if she hopes to win against the 11th seed.
Anastasija Sevastova has, however, had challenges of her own. Indeed, the Latvian hasn’t yet made it past the fourth round at any event this season. She also suffered an alarming mental lapse in the second set of her second-round match, allowing her opponent Katerina Siniakova to bagel her as a result. She recovered to win it in the decider, but such a cavalier approach will almost certainly be punished by Putintseva. To stand any chance, the Latvian will need to clean up her double faults and keep her composure. But unfortunately, little about her play so far this season suggests she is up to the challenge of doing so.
Prediction: Putintseva in three
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
