There should be plenty of entertaining tennis on day three at the WTA Miami Open with a number of star names set to take to the courts for the first time in the Sunshine State. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Leylah Fernandez vs Karolina Muchova, Naomi Osaka vs Angelique Kerber and Anna Kalinskaya vs Karolina Pliskova. But who will reach the round of 32?
WTA Miami Day 3 Predictions
Heather Watson vs Elina Svitolina
Head-to-head: Svitolina 2-1 Watson
There had been very little for Heather Watson to celebrate at the WTA Miami Open in recent years, but the Briton changed that with a hard-fought 6-7 7-5 6-4 win over Arantxa Rus. It was her first in Florida in six years. She now faces what looks like a tough test on paper in Elina Svitolina. But it has been an indifferent season so far for the Ukrainian, with the situation in her country doubtless not helping matters. Still, she is unquestionably a good enough player to win this match and although Watson has beaten her before that match came seven years ago on grass. On the hard courts in Miami, expect Svitolina to have enough.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
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Daria Saville vs Simona Halep
Head-to-head: Halep 3-1 Saville
Simona Halep has found some form of late, having reached two semifinals in her last three outings, including in Indian Wells last week. The Romanian is still not back to her very best after a miserable 2021 season, but she is certainly moving in the right direction. The same could be said of Daria Saville, with the world #249 recording a very solid victory over Belgium’s Greet Minnen to reach the second round, having also made the last 16 in Indian Wells as a qualifier. But this a real step up in the quality of opposition. Halep has had the better of this rivalry and, frankly, is the better player of the two. That should be reflected in the outcome.
Prediction: Halep in 2
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Belinda Bencic vs Marta Kostyuk
Head-to-head: first meeting
It has been a disappointing start to 2022 for Belinda Bencic. The Swiss’ best efforts so far have been quarterfinal showings in Sydney and St Petersburg which, for a player of her undoubted quality, is a poor return. This does not look like the easiest match in which to find some form either. Marta Kostyuk still has a way to go to establish herself at the top of the game, but she has made some encouraging strides lately, including breaking into the top 50 for the first time in her career in February. If she can build on the momentum of an admittedly narrow win over Alison Van Uytvanck in the first round, she might just have enough to get past the reigning Olympic Gold Medallist.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
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Anett Kontaveit vs Ann Li
Head-to-head: first meeting
Anett Kontaveit can be almost unplayable when she is on song. The problem for the Estonian is that she struggles to consistently produce her best tennis. Still the relatively slow, heavy conditions in Miami should suit her game and she was a semifinalist at this event in 2019 (losing to eventual champion Ashleigh Barty). She should not expect to have things all her own way against Ann Li, who has shown impressive battling qualities and some fine shot-making over the course of her short career, but if Kontaveit plays anything like her best tennis, she should win comfortably enough.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
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