Day 1 of the WTA Miami Open signals the start of the only 96-player tournament of the season right now, due to the postponement/cancellation of Indian Wells. While the men don’t start until Wednesday, the women kick off the main draw on Tuesday, with 12 great matchups. We predict all of them for you. Four are in this article, and the other eight are in two separate articles–one features Zarina Diyas vs Venus Williams, and the other headlines Shelby Rogers vs Madison Brengle.
WTA Miami Day 1 Predictions
Anna Blinkova vs Barbora Krejcikova
Head-to-head: Krejcikova 1-0
Krejcikova is really enjoying her tennis life right now. The 25-year-old Czech is having success in both her singles and doubles game. She reached the final of Dubai two weeks ago, losing to Garbine Muguruza, and reached the final of both the women’s and mixed doubles at the Australian Open- winning the mixed and losing the women’s doubles. It’ll be a tough match for Blinkova, who has struggled with form in her last two tournaments- crashing out back-to-back in the first round. Expect Krejcikova to pull through.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Sorana Cirstea vs Katrina Scott
Head-to-head: First meeting
You may not have heard of Katrina Scott before, but the talented 16-year-old American, currently ranked #440 in the world, made her Grand Slam main draw debut last year as a wild card, losing in the second round of the US Open to Amanda Anisimova in three sets. Will she be able to beat the Romania veteran Sorana Cirstea? It’ll be a tough ask. Expect a good match, but a straightforward win for Cirstea.
Prediction: Cirstea in 2
Paula Badosa vs Jil Teichmann
Head-to-head: Badosa leads 1-0
The 23-year-old Teichmann seems to be in good form. She reached the semifinals of Dubai last week and the semifinals of Adelaide last month. If the Swiss continues her form, she will easily dispatch Badosa and send her packing. Expect her to move through to the second round here in Miami.
Prediction: Teichmann in 2
Lauren Davis vs Kaia Kanepi
Head-to-head: First meeting
Injury has plagued Kanepi’s career; whenever she seems to be in good form, a major injury seems to surface again and again. The former world no.15 had an impressive start to 2021, making it to the final of the lead-up event to the Australian Open, and has not lost in the first round in any tournament so far this year.
Davis, on the other hand, had a mixed start to 2021, but has managed to pick up her game in the last couple tournaments. If Davis is continuing her form, it’ll be anyone’s game–but with Kanepi’s form on the up every week, she seems like the safer pick.
Prediction: Kanepi in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
