Elena Rybakina vs Petra Kvitová Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Miami

Prediction published on 01/04/2023, 05:02  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 01/04/2023 at 06:02 in Tennis Predictions

Tenth seeded Elena Rybakina is on course to win her second title of the year. The 23-year-old faces 15th seed Petra Kvitova in the Miami Open final. It's been a successful year for Rybakina who is successfully building on winning at Wimbledon last year. This is her third final of the year following being the runner-up in the Australian Open and then winning in Indian Wells in her most recent tournament. At the start of the Miami Open, Rybakina was ranked seventh but a win over Kvitova will take her up to sixth place and that will be a new career high for her. Winning the Miami Open will also see her go top of the WTA Race, climbing above Aryna Sabalenka. The last four in Miami saw her get a straight sets win over third seeded Jessica Pegula. That means in Indian Wells and Miami, she's beaten the top three players in the current rankings. There have been two previous matches between these players. Rybakina beat Kvitova in Ostrava last year but 2023 began with a win for the Czech in Adelaide.

Petra Kvitova is in only her second WTA 1000 final since 2020. Her last final at this level was in 2022 when losing to Caroline Garcia in Cincinnati. The 33-year-old had never previously made it past the quarter finals in Miami but clinched her place with a straight sets win over unseeded Sorana Cirstea in the semi-finals. Kvitova was ranked 12th at the start of this tournament and her run to the final has seen her climb one place. Winning the title would see her rise to tenth. In terms of ranking points earned this year, the Czech is seventh and a win over Rybakina will take her up to fifth. Only one set has been lost on the way to this final, comparted to two for her opponent. It's good to see her back in a major final but Rybakina is our tip to win the title.