Miami Open 2023: Rybakina vs Badosa Prediction, Odds & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Miami Open third-round match featuring Elena Rybakina vs Paula Badosa on Saturday, March 25, 2023.

Elena Rybakina vs Paula Badosa Match Preview

After surviving a scare in her first match at the 2023 Miami Open, Elena Rybakina will face a much sterner test against good friend Paula Badosa in the third round. Who will prevail?

Elena Rybakina came through a testing encounter against Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, beating the Russian 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to advance into the third round of the Miami Open. Kalinsakya served for the opening set but got broken. Eventually, she went on to lose the set. Rybakina then nudged ahead of the Russian in the second set, taking a 4-2 lead. But Kalinskaya reeled four straight games to level the match. But Kalinskaya who took a MTO in between sets was getting fatigued in the decider, which Rybakina went on to win it.

Paula Badosa, for her part, ended the run of German qualifier Laura Siegemund. She won 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 for just her sixth win of the season. Now she is set to take on Elena Rybakina for the second time in as many weeks. Can the Spaniard avenge her loss to the Kazakh in Indian Wells?

Elena Rybakina vs Paula Badosa Prediction and Pick

Paula Badosa leads Elena Rybakina 4-2 in their head-to-head. Interestingly, the two times Rybakina has beaten Badosa she went on to lift the title, in Bucharest (2019) and Indian Wells (2023). It could prove to be a good omen should she defeat Badosa again, with the chance to clinch the Sunshine Double very much within reach. Badosa pushed Rybakina in that second set in California, and I think she’ll have the artillery to hurt Rybakina and cover the set handicap.