Despite the withdrawal of Iga Swiatek and early exits from high seeds Ons Jabeur and Caroline Garcia, the third-round lineup of WTA Miami is still impressive. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will make the last 16?
WTA Miami Day 5 Predictions
Claire Liu vs Martina Trevisan
Head-to-head: Trevisan 1-0 Liu
Rematch of the 2022 Rabat final which propelled Trevisan into the semifinals of Roland Garros. The Italian has struggled to make an impact since but did beat out Nao Hibino in her opener here. Liu has had some luck in this draw, getting a retirement from Katerina Siniakova after the Czech went up a set, beat Julia Grabher in the second round, and gets the easiest seeded opponent possible. Trevisan will fight but Liu should win.
Prediction: Liu in 3
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Jessica Pegula vs Danielle Collins
Head-to-head: Pegula 3-0 Collins
An exciting American derby between Pegula and Collins, the first meeting of which dates back to ITF qualifying in 2012. Collins has struggled to find success, entering Miami with an 8-8 record and after a surprising straight-set loss to Dalma Galfi in Indian Wells. Pegula, 16-5 on the year, has been a force on the tour in 2023. The World No. 3 lost one of the matches of the year 11-13 in a third-set tiebreak to Petra Kvitova. Both of them got straight-set wins to start in Miami, Pegula ousting Katherine Sebov while Collins took out Viktoriya Tomova. This should be an exciting match but I see Pegula winning on current form.
Prediction: Pegula in 2
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Petra Martic vs Elise Mertens
Head-to-head: Mertens 3-0 Martic
After winning just four games against Wang Xinyu in Indian Wells, Mertens has bounced back with a strong showing in Miami, taking out Alycia Parks and Daria Kasatkina. Martic stopped a three-match losing streak that began in the Linz final with a win over Wang Xiyu. Mertens has dropped just one set in three previous meetings against Martic and I expect her to keep that head-to-head streak going.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
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Elena Rybakina vs Paula Badosa
Head-to-head: Badosa 4-2 Rybakina
Rematch of an Indian Wells third-round from last week where Rybakina won in straight sets before going on to capture the title. The Kazakh did not have an easy time in her opener, going to three sets with Anna Kalinskaya, and will now try to advance past the third round for the first time in Miami. Former No. 2 Badosa is bidding to keep herself in the Top 30 as she is defending a quarterfinal in Miami. The Spaniard also had to fight in her opener, battling past Laura Siegemund. Badosa has the head-to-head record but her game is just not a place where she can challenge Rybakina at the moment, who is being lauded as part of a new Big Three in women’s tennis alongside Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
