Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Miami

Prediction published on 29/03/2022, 06:27  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 30/03/2022 at 08:29 in Tennis Predictions

22nd seeded Belinda Bencic takes on unseeded Naomi Osaka in the Miami Masters semi finals. Both of these players were ranked a lot higher last year and are battling their way back up the list. Belinda Bencic was the Olympic champion last year and was in the top ten last October. 2022 has seen her in the top 20 but the Swiss player began this tournament down at 28th in the world. Bencic is up to 21st in the live rankings and a win here could see her back in the top 16. This is her first semi-final of the year after two last eight defeats. This tournament has seen her beat Marta Kostyuk, Heather Watson, Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Daria Saville, all unseeded players.

Naomi Osaka saw her world ranking plummet after failing to successfully defend her Australian Open title this year. Osaka began the Miami Masters ranked 77th but is up to 57th in the live rankings. A win over Bencic will put her back in the top 40. Osaka did reach the semi-final of the Melbourne Summer Set tournament in January but then withdrew. After losing in the last 32 of the Australian Open, the Japanese player has only participated at Indian Wells, being beaten in the last 64 by Veronika Kudermetova (who she was supposed to face in Melbourne). This tournament has seen improved form with wins over Astra Sharma, 13th seeded Angelique Kerber (for the loss of five games), had a walkover against Karolina Muchova, beat Allison Riske in the last 16 and then ninth seeded Danielle Collins in her quarter final. Winning this match would put Osaka in her first WTA final since winning the 2021 Australian Open. Her record against Bencic is not a good one (one win in four) but they haven't had a match for three years. Osaka looks in the better form, back her to win this.