Maria Sakkari vs Elena Rybakina Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Miami

Prediction published on 26/03/2024, 01:44  by Daniel Ngulu in Tennis Predictions

Fourth seed Elena Rybakina's quest to reach another Miami Open final will be put to test when she plays eighth seed Maria Sakkari next. They will square off in the quarterfinals with the winner playing either Victoria Azarenka or Yulia Putintseva for a place in the final. Maria Sakkari has been in red-hot form in recent weeks and has picked up her campaign after a slow start. She has won seven of her last eight fixtures and has improved her record to 12-5. Sakkari earned a walkover from Anna Kalinskaya, who withdrew from their scheduled round four showdown. She is now one win away from equaling her best-ever result here, achieved three seasons ago. Sakkari, who arrived here after finishing as runner-up at Indian Wells, has won both her rounds in straight sets. She is now up two places to seventh in the live ranking.

Elena Rybakina is now the top-ranked player left in Miami after the top three seeds were eliminated. This should strengthen her belief that she can go all the way here this time around. The world number four finished as runner-up last season. Rybakina has been in exceptional form this season and has so far compiled a 20-3 record. She has won two titles, Brisbane and Abu Dhabi, and was a finalist in Doha. To advance to this round, Rybakina defeated Madison Keys in straight sets. It was her first 2-0 success here after her first two rounds had gone the full distance. Rybakina has defeated Sakkari twice in their three previous meetings. She won their last encounter in three sets in the group stages of the 2023 WTA Finals.