Sorana Cirstea vs Karolina Muchova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Miami

Prediction published on 25/03/2023, 13:48  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 25/03/2023 at 15:23 in Tennis Predictions

Qualifier Karolina Muchova bids to reach the last 16 of the Miami Open. To set up a match with either 17th seeded Karolina Pliskova or unseeded Marketa Vondrosova, Muchova has to defeat Sorana Cirstea. Muchova began this tournament ranked 55th but two years ago was as high as 19th. The Czech had to win two qualifying matches to reach the main draw and did so for the loss of just six games. Her impressive form has continued with wins over Jil Teichmann and 32nd seeded Zhu Lin losing only eight games. Muchova is up to 51st in the live rankings and can climb another three places if beating Cirstea. The Czech has made three quarter finals this year, including her last two tournaments. Her last event was at Indian Wells where she lost to eventual winner Elena Rybakina after earlier eliminating Victoria Azarenka. Muchova is up to 19th in the Live WTA Race and that shows what good form she's been in this year.

Sorana Cirstea is yet to beat Karolina Muchova. They have met twice with a three-set win for the Czech in the 2020 US Open and a win in straight sets for Muchova in Dubai earlier this year. Both of those matches contained a tie-break. Cirstea was ranked 74th at the start of this Miami Open. Her highest ranking has been 21st but that was nearly ten years ago. The Romanian is 32nd in the Live WTA Race at the time of writing this preview. The 32-year-old reached the quarter finals in Indian Wells in her last tournament before losing in straight sets to Iga Swiatek (not playing in this event). To reach the third round in Miami, Cirstea has had two straight sets wins including beating fifth seed Carolina Garcia in round two. That was her second win in a row over Garcia, having beaten her at Indian Wells. Muchova looks to be in the better form so we go for her to win.