Three to See, Miami Open Day 9: Badosa vs. Pegula; Swiatek vs. Kvitova; Ruud vs. Zverev
While Iga Swiatek is already assured the No. 1 ranking, Paula Badosa can clinch the No. 2 spot with a win on Wednesday.
WATCH: Badosa is into her first Miami Open quarterfinal, and is yet to drop a set at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Paula Badosa vs. Jessica Pegula
Opportunity abounds for both of these players. If Badosa wins, she’ll reach a career-high No. 2; not bad for someone who started 2021 ranked outside the Top 50. For Pegula, this is a chance to put her in-form game up against a Top 8 player, and a chance to face Badosa for the first time. The American, who made the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and has been untroubled so far in Miami, seems like she’s tiptoeing toward another breakthrough. But based on Badosa’s form so far in Miami, and her ability to take her opponents’ best stuff and send back something better, Pegula may not get that breakthrough here. Winner: Badosa
Iga Swiatek vs. Petra Kvitova
Swiatek, winner of 14 straight matches, is on a hot streak. Kvitova, who lost in the first round at the Australian Open and hasn’t reached a semifinal so far in 2022, isn’t. At 32, and ranked No. 32, it has seemed at times as if the Czech champion’s days on tour may be numbered—especially when she lost a 6-0 second set to Maria Sakkari in Indian Wells. But Kvitova has looked better in Miami, where she scored a semi-surprising win over Veronika Kudermetova in her last match. For her part, Swiatek has looked unstoppable. She has controlled the rallies in all of her matches, but can she control them against Kvitova, one of the WTA’s all-time big hitters? It will be interesting to see how these two match up in their first meeting. Winner: Swiatek
Alexander Zverev vs. Casper Ruud
The night session closes with a contest between two similarly-matched baseliners, which could, potentially, go on for a little while. Zverev and Ruud both love to range behind the baseline and launch safe and heavy topspin ground strokes. Zverev’s best shot is his backhand while Ruud’s is his forehand. Zverev’s blistering serve makes him more of a threat on hard courts than Ruud, who still loves clay best. Zverev and Ruud have played twice, both times on hard court, and both times in 2021. And both times Zverev won. He’ll probably make it three in a row, but there should be a lot of quality rallying before it’s over. Winner: Zverev