Elena Rybakina was on the verge of elimination, but made her comeback during the match with Clara Towson. The second round continues on Friday and several Russians will play today.
Ons Jabeur – Elina Avanesyan
Constant injuries completely derailed Ons Jabeur’s season. She only has 2 victories in 6 matches this year. In the last two tournaments in Doha and Indian Wells, she was eliminated immediately after the first round. Her two victories came against players outside the WTA top 100.
Avanesyan defeated Erika Andreeva with a score of 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 and reached the second round of the Miami Open for the first time in her career. She has a good chance of going even further, given Gill’s health problems.
Forecast: victory of Elina Avanesyan.
Danielle Collins-Anasatisia Potapova
Collins started her Miami Open with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Bernarda Pera. Potapova, meanwhile, reached the quarterfinals of the Indian Wells Open last week. She also placed in the top eight in Miami last year.
In the Indian Wells quarterfinals against Marta Kostyuk, Potapova looked weak and lost the set 0-6, losing almost all of her rallies. She hasn’t played in Miami yet, so it’s not yet clear if she was able to recover from the latest loss. If Anastasia can get her game back, she should take Collins.
Forecast: victory for Anastasia Potapova.
Donna Vekic – Ekaterina Alexandrova
Vekic opened the tournament in Miami with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 victory over former world number one Karolina Pliskova. It was only her second victory against the Czech in nine matches. Alexandrova is now going through difficult times: she has lost her last three matches.
The Russian fled the WTA 1000 tournaments in Dubai and Indian Wells without winning a single match. Previously, she lost to Iga Swiatek in the third round of the Qatar Open.
In the personal meetings, Vekic and Alexandrova drew 2:2. Ekaterina won the final meeting of this year’s Linz Open in three sets.
It is interesting that during personal meetings, tennis players alternate victories and defeats and, probably, this time the trend will continue, since Vekic is in better shape. Recent results do not speak in favor of Alexandrova.
Forecast: Donna Vekic wins.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – Shelby Rogers
Rogers earned a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Linda Fruhvirtova in the first round of the Miami Open. It was her first victory of the season since returning to the WTA Tour in January. Pavlyuchenkova is one of the best tennis players this season.
She reached the semifinals of the Qatar Open and the Linz Open, as well as the quarterfinals in Adelaide and San Diego. Pavlyuchenkova also reached the fourth round of the Indian Wells Open, where she lost to Marta Kostyuk.
Rogers hasn’t beaten a WTA top 30 player in over a year. The Russian is in pretty good shape and will most likely win.
Forecast: victory of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Vyacheslav Gorbachev/Athletistic
Source: Sport
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