Miami Open 2023: Vekic vs Kvitova Prediction, Odds & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Miami Open third-round match featuring Donna Vekic vs Petra Kvitova on Sunday, March 26, 2023.

Donna Vekic vs Petra Kvitova Match Preview

It promises to be a blockbuster when Donna Vekic meets Petra Kvitova on Sunday. The Czech lefty has won each of their previous two meetings at the Miami Open. So could the third time be the charm for the Croatian star?

Donna Vekic celebrated her return to the world’s top 20 with a three-set win over Madison Brengle in the second round of the Miami Open. The Croatian star had a rough time picking her spots on serve. She served a whopping 11 double faults in the match, although she was aided by Brengle’s very own serving jitters (the American hit five DFs). But it was Vekic who won points behind her first delivery and secured six breaks to Brengle’s five.

Petra Kvitova needed just 67 minutes to blast past compatriot and teenager Linda Noskova. The lefty dropped just three games in a domineering performance that could send shivers down the spine of her opponent Donna Vekic. Considering the level displayed by Noskova in her first full season on the WTA Tour in the past couple of months, we expected Kvitova to have a battle on her hands. Instead, this was an afternoon where Kvitova shifted through the gears and barely missed.

Donna Vekic vs Petra Kvitova Prediction and Pick

Petra Kvitova leads Donna Vekic 3-1 in their head-to-head. Kvitova looked imperious in her opening match at the Miami Open. I’ve been overly impressed by Kvitova’s ball striking, her conscious ability to keep a low unforced error count and her staying hyper-aggressive behind the return in North America. So far, her Sunshine Swing has been productive having reached the quarterfinal in Indian Wells. Vekic’s serving woes could cost her big time. Playing from the back foot against Kvitova is the last thing you would want, especially now that she is crashing the ball with aplomb.