Iga Swiatek won the Sunshine Double–Indian Wells and Miami–in 2022. Now Elena Rybakina will be hoping to accomplish the same feat this year after triumphing at the BNP Paribas Open this past Sunday.
Rybakina, who is up to No. 7 in the world and would be No. 3 if she had gotten 2,000 ranking points for winning Wimbledon last summer, could open with Anna Kalinskaya before facing Paula Badosa in the third round. Swiatek, whom the Kazakh defeated at both the Australian Open and in Indian Wells, is a potential quarterfinal opponent.
The draw is friendlier one in the bottom half, where two of my favorite picks reside.
Aryna Sabalenka (6/1 to win)
The world No. 2 and No. 2 seed in Miami, Sabalenka is obviously opposite Swiatek in the bracket. She is coming off a runner-up performance in Indian Wells, which continued an awesome start to the season that includes her first-ever Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. Sabalenka is 17-2 overall for the 2023 campaign. Conditions in the desert over the last fortnight were too slow for her big-hitting game and she still reached the final. They should be better for the Belarusian in Miami.
Paula Badosa (80/1 to win)
Injuries have been a problem for Badosa since the start of the hard-court summer in 2022, but she is healthy now and perhaps ready to turn things around. A quarter of the draw with both Swiatek and Rybakina isn’t easy, but Swiatek may be dealing with a rib injury and Rybakina has to make a quick turnaround after lifting the Indian Wells trophy. Last spring Badosa reached the semifinals in Indian Wells and the quarterfinals in Miami, so she knows how to play well this time of year.
Petra Kvitova (100/1 to win)
This is a longshot, but Kvitova’s game–even at 33 years old–is such that she can get beat anyone on any given day. When she gets hot, watch out. The Czech just advanced to the fourth round in Indian Wells, beating Jelena Ostapenko and Jessica Pegula in the process. Kvitova has never won Miami, but she is a three-time quarterfinalist (two in her last three appearances) and has not lost prior to the fourth round since 2016. She wouldn’t have to face Sabalenka until the semis and Swiatek or Rybakina until the final, so the draw is favorable.
who ya got?
Nicely done, Ricky! Thanks.
My choice to win is Elena Rybakina. Although, I would be thrilled to see Petra Kvitova win Miami.
Finally, today I have eyes on Kaia Kanepi; she is in great shape, which is scary. The 38-year-old Estonian has had trouble with injuries and can arrive with poor fitness and extra pounds. When she looks like she does now, she can beat anyone. In my bracket, I picked her to lose to Giorgi. Giorgi always shows up ready to battle.
Giorgi was at least two breaks ahead; Kanepi started slow but quickly caught up. Thanks to Tennis Channel, now I see Kaia is in excellent shape. She may lose to Giorgi in the first round, but that would be due to a lack of match play.
Hopefully, Kanepi will go far in some tournaments this spring/summer.
Hard to bet against Rybakina….she’s got all the momentum!
Thank you for WTA feature, Ricky. 👍🏻👍🏻
Not sure I agree about the slow conditions in IW not suiting big hitters like Sabalenka . Generate their own power , have more time to do so, just like Isner who loves the desert thin air .
OTOH Miami is the complete opposite, slow court but air like pea soup. How do they hit winners in that? John does well there and in Atlanta.
Reading your posts, I have backed Sab., so……! Watch Barbora win now!
Last night I watched Rybakina struggle to win her match vs. Kalinskaya. Thank god she made it, but I could have made a mistake picking her to win.
Fortunately, I have Barbora as a finalist.
Ostaspanko was most impressive in winning her match, allowing Golubic only two games.
Potapova won her match over Marta Kostyuk. It is hard for me to see dear Marta lose to her specifically. 😠