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WTA Miami Open Final – Rybakina vs Kvitova
World No. 7 Eyes Sunshine Double
World No. 7 Elena Rybakina powered into the Miami Open final, beating American Jessica Pegula in straight sets, 7-6 (3), 6-4, to clinch her 13th consecutive match. The Kazakh is one win away from becoming only the fifth woman to clinch the Sunshine Double – winning back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Miami — and the second player to accomplish the feat after world No.1 Iga Swiatek did it last year.
Standing in Rybakina’s way is Petra Kvitova in Saturday’s highly anticipated final. Kvitova defeated Sorana Cirstea 7-5, 6-4 to advance to her first final of the season.
As ever, we bring you a preview of the WTA Miami Open final, complete with tennis odds and free tennis picks.
WTA Miami Open Final Odds
- Games Handicap: Rybakina -3½ (-120) | Kvitova +3½ (Ev)
- Moneyline: Rybakina -290 | Kvitova +230
- Games Total: O 21½ (-115) | U 21½ (-105)
Rybakina Powers Through
Indian Wells champion Rybakina, seeded 10th at the Miami Open presented by Itau, got off to a shaky start. She went the distance in both of her first two matches and staved off an untimely exit in a match-point saving effort against Paula Badosa in the Round of 32.
Since then, she’s been sublime and advances to the ultimate round without dropping a set. She defeated Czech dark horse Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-3 in the R16 and followed with a 6-3, 6-0 demolition of Martina Trevisan in the quarterfinals.
American fan favorite Pegula was Rybakina’s toughest test (on paper) in her path to the final. Pegula was tipped among the top pre-tournament favorites at the sportsbook exchange to win the title. Moreover, on two previous occasions, Rybakina lost to Pegula – both times in straight sets.
In their first meeting this year, Pegula, true to form, gave Rybakina all she could handle, forcing the Kazakh to come up with stunning tennis during the rain-delay-riddled semifinal.
Pegula created multiple break opportunities, but she struggled to close them out when they counted the most. Especially in the first set when Rybakina seemed to have a hard time maintaining a high level of energy. The weather didn’t help either, disrupting the rhythm of both players as they were forced to stop play twice.
After Rybakina took the first set in a tiebreak, extending her perfect record to 7-0 in tiebreaks for the season, she relaxed a bit too quickly. Pegula took the advantage to move ahead 4-2 in the second set, but the tenacious 23-year-old Kazakh recovered quickly to reel off four games in a row and clinch the victory.
Rybakina beats Pegula 7-6(3) 6-4 in Miami
I said 2023 would be the year of Elena. It looks like I was right
✅Back to back finals in Sunshine Double
✅13 match win streak
With the elegance of a princess & the spirit of a champion, Elena is bringing class back to tennis
🇰🇿💙🇰🇿 pic.twitter.com/21CrJLaJoF
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 31, 2023
Kvitova Edges Cirstea
Kvitova defeated No. 74-ranked Cirstea in straight sets to advance into her first Miami Open final. This week has been a week of firsts for the 33-year-old Czech as she made her first semifinal in 13 appearances at the event.
Surprise semifinalist Cirstea, who upset world No. 2 and betting online favorite Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, didn’t have any answers for the Czech’s big serve.
Kvotova served 68% of first serves and won 67% of her first-serve points. She saved four of seven break points and converted on four break-point opportunities against Cirstea. As well, she served seven aces, including an ace on match point to defeat her 32-year-old Romanian counterpart. To explore the exciting tennis betting options available for the Challenger Pune tournament, visit BetUS.
Kvitova advances into the final having dropped just one set – against Ekaterina Alexandrova in the quarterfinals, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
B💥O💥O💥M@Petra_Kvitova | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/Y783LfjSla
— wta (@WTA) March 31, 2023
Rybakina vs Kvitova Head-to-Head Series
Rybakina and Kvitova are tied 1-1 in head-to-heads lifetime. Rybakina won the first meeting between them in Ostrava last year, defeating the Czech 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the quarterfinals of her home tournament.
That said, Kvitova owns the most recent victory, having beaten Rybakina in the Adelaide International 2 tournament at the start of the year, 6-3, 7-5. Then, Kvitova was priced as the +130 underdog, turning the sports betting markets on their heads with the upset over Rybakina, who closed as the -170 favorite.
Rybakina vs Kvitova Picks & Prediction
Rybakina is in blistering form this season and comes into the final with a stellar 21-3 record. As things currently stand, the 23-year-old leads the WTA Tour with the most wins.
Across the WTA Miami betting markets, Rybakina is the firm favorite to win her second title of the season and second straight WTA 1000 event.
Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, enters this matchup as the slim underdog, but, despite her disadvantage in the betting, she is a player that can certainly defeat Rybakina. She has done so once this season already.
Kvitova is a player that thrives on the big stage. She’s a consummate competitor and will relish the challenge Rybakina brings as the hottest player on the WTA Tour.
Bettors could do no worse than backing either player for the outright win. Both are a value proposition in their own right. That said, Kvitova is the choice bet here.
