WTA Miami continues to heat up as we enter the third round of matches. Three-time winner Victoria Azarenka is on the cards in her quest to make it title No. 4 here, but she must get past world No. 7, Qinwen Zheng. Home favorite Taylor Townsend will also be looking to sustain her red-hot form against Elena Rybakina. Who will advance to Round 4?
WTA Miami Day 5 Predictions
Yulia Putintseva vs Greet Minnen
Head–to–Head: First Meeting
Both players managed to edge out their more illustrious opponents in the second round, and they now come head-to-head in their first meeting. It promises to be a hard-fought battle as Putintseva and Minnen look to go deep into the competition for the first time. Putintseva relied on her first serve ever so well, and she can rely on it to get her past the Belgian.
Prediction: Putintseva in 3
Elena Rybakina vs Taylor Townsend
Head–to–Head: First Meeting
In current form, Taylor Townsend should set the upset bells to ring. She breezed through the qualifiers and won 25 points on her first serve against Elise Mertens in the second round to set up a showdown with the No. 4 seed, Elena Rybakina. Townsend will make this competitive with her aggressive style of play, but the Kazakh No. 1 should contain the home favorite and end her run.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Jelena Ostapenko vs Anna Kalinskaya
Head–to–Head: Ostapenko 0-2 Kalinskaya
There is no reason why Jelena Ostapenko is the favorite to win this match. She hasn’t defeated the Russian in two attempts and struggled to defeat Laura Siegemund in the second round after losing to Angelique Kerber at the same stage at Indian Wells. Kalinskaya, on the other hand, thoroughly outclassed Wang Xiyu within an hour, and there’s no reason she can’t maintain a 100% record against an opponent she has her number.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 2
Victoria Azarenka vs Qinwen Zheng
Head–to–Head: Azarenka 1-0 Zheng
Qinwen Zheng didn’t look like a top-10 player when she conceded a set against a struggling Katerina Siniakova in the second round. This came on the back of two first-round losses in Dubai and Indian Wells, albeit one to the indomitable Iga Swiatek. The Chinese youngster hasn’t looked solid with her serve and shot-making and will find it difficult against a veteran in this match. Azarenka has beaten her once and can once again grind out another win as she bids to win her fourth title in Miami.
Prediction: Azarenka in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
