Day 4 of the WTA Miami Open is stacked with exciting matches and the match between Belinda Bencic and Elina Svitolina is one of the highlights of the second round. This article also features Amanda Anisimova and Jelena Ostapenko. As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate. But who will advance?
WTA Miami Day 4 Predictions
Anna Kalinskaya vs Moyuka Uchijima
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Anna Kalinskaya has struggled this season due to injuries and is still finding her best level. She has lost her last four matches and will be eager to get back to winning ways. Moyuka Uchijima played a solid match in the first round against Suzan Lamens and will like her chances against Kalinskaya. Although Kalinskaya is the superior player if she plays at her best, it is in doubt given her recent form and level of fitness. I am giving a slight edge to the Japanese.
Prediction: Uchijima in 3
Jelena Ostapenko vs Alexandra Eala
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Former Miami Open finalist Jelena Ostapenko will her start her campaign against Alexandra Eala. On paper, this is an easy match for Ostapenko but it’s never easy to know how she will play on a given day. Apart from reaching the final in Doha, Ostapenko has been extremely poor in other tournaments and Eala will hope for an off day from the Latvian. Eala upset Katie Volynets in the first round to get her first main draw win of the season. The 19-year-old will have nothing to lose against Ostapenko and can make it a battle.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Amanda Anisimova vs Mayar Sherif
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Amanda Anisimova was unlucky to face Belinda Bencic in the second round in Indian Wells and will look to start afresh in Miami. She has an easier opening-round match here against Mayar Sherif, who broke her seven-match losing streak in all competitions in the first round. Sherif fought back brilliantly after losing the second set 6-1 against Lulu Sun. It was a rare hard-court win for the Egyptian player but Anisimova is a much more powerful opponent and should win this comfortably.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Belinda Bencic vs Elina Svitolina
Head-to-Head: Bencic 2-2 Svitolina
Belinda Bencic showed great grit and consistency to overcome a close battle against Dayana Yastremska in the first round. Yastremska served for the match in the third set but made ugly errors and Bencic kept everything steady and got the break. Winning while not playing at their best is what top players do sometimes and Bencic should be proud of her effort. Elina Svitolina had a brilliant run in Indian Wells and was stopped by the eventual champion, Mirra Andreeva. This is a difficult match for both players and there’s not much to separate them. I’m leaning with Bencic, but Svitolina has an equal chance of winning.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
