Miami Open 2023: Rybakina vs Kvitova Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Miami Open final match featuring Elena Rybakina vs Petra Kvitova on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

Elena Rybakina vs Petra Kvitova Match Preview

Will Elena Rybakina complete a clean sweep of the Sunshine Double? Or will Petra Kvitova storm to another title win in her storied career? It promises to be a gripping final at the 2023 Miami Open, so who will prevail?

Elena Rybakina defeated Jessica Pegula for the first time in three tries. She came from a break deficit in the first set of their rain-interrupted match before pulling away with a 7-6, 6-4 win. She kept the possible Sunshine Double triumph alive and will have fate in her own hands when she takes on Petra Kvitova in the Miami Open final.

Petra Kvitova, meanwhile, ensured there would be no Cinderella story for Sorana Cirstea. She ended the unseeded Romanian’s run with a gutsy 7-5, 6-4 win. Kvitova trailed 2-5 in the first set, but reeled off five straight games to steal the set. And after snatching an early break in the second, she was not going to be denied a place in the Miami Open final. Can she overcome her biggest test of the fortnight by taking down Elena Rybakina?

Elena Rybakina vs Petra Kvitova Prediction and Pick

Elena Rybakina and Petra Kvitova are tied at 1-1 in their head-to-head. Rybakina won a tight two-setter in Ostrava late last season beating Kvitova in her own backyard. But the Czech turned the tables earlier this year, defeating the Kazakh in a marquee first-round match in Adelaide. Rybakina will have a couple of incentives on her mind here. Victory on Saturday will thrust her name among the legends of the sport who have completed the rare achievement of winning the Sunshine Double. She’d also top the WTA Race for the first time in 2023, further garnishing her reputation as the dominant force in the women’s tour. Both players have immense power off the ground, but the consistency of Rybakina’s serve should easily tip the scales in her favor. Back the Kazakh to continue her meteoric rise.