We are down to four semifinalists at the WTA Miami Open with two incredible matchups on the Thursday slate in the Sunshine State. No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina squares off against three-time Miami Open champion Victoria Azarenka. In the other semi, No. 14 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova takes on home favorite Danielle Collins. As always, we at LWOT have the preview and prediction for both matches. But who will advance to the final?
WTA Miami Semifinal Predictions
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Danielle Collins
Head-to-Head: first meeting
No. 14 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova is just one win away from her first WTA 1000 final. Alexandrova arrived in Miami, having lost three consecutive matches. That has not stopped her from playing superb tennis this week, notching wins over Donna Vekic, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Iga Swiatek, and Jessica Pegula. Her level has been extraordinary. Alexandrova squares off against Danielle Collins for the first time on Friday. The 30-year-old American is also on the brink of her WTA 1000 final.
Alexandrova has done a terrific job waiting for her opportunities to attack this week. That strategy will serve her well against Collins. The American brings lethal power to the court, but if Alexandrova can keep putting balls in play, she could frustrate Collins. This should be an incredible match, but I’ll side with Alexandrova to take down back-to-back Americans en route to her maiden WTA 1000 final.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka
Head-to-Head: Rybakina 3-0 Azarenka
We are in for a treat when Elena Rybakina and Victoria Azarenka square off in the WTA Miami semifinals. Rybakina holds the 3-0 head-to-head advantage, but Azarenka did take the first set when they met in Dubai last month before retiring due to injury. The three-time Miami Open champion has battled this week, spending nine hours and 25 minutes on-court during her first four matches. The path has not been much easier for Rybakina, who is coming off a two-hour and 48-minute quarterfinal victory over Maria Sakkari.
If you love clean tennis, this is the match for you. We are in line for a ball-striking show when these two take Stadium Court. The Miami Open has been one of the most fruitful events for Azarenka over her career, but Rybakina was a finalist here last year and is hunting for her third WTA 1000 title. Rybakina is 14-1 since the beginning of February. I’ll give the edge to her form and overpowering serve.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
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