The women’s singles final will be played on Saturday in Miami, as well as the men’s doubles final.
For the third consecutive significant joint event this year (Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami), Elena Rybakina has advanced to the championship match. And she again faces a fellow big-serving opponent. However, this time it’s not Aryna Sabalenka: it’s two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
Saturday’s play gets underway at 12:30pm local time with the men’s doubles championship match, as Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin face Austin Krajicek and Nicolas Mahut.
Elena Rybakina (10) vs. Petra Kvitova (15) – 3:00pm on Stadium
Rybakina is now 21-4 on the year, and is on an 13-match winning streak. She defeated American No.1 Jessica Pegula in straight sets in the semifinals. With a victory on Saturday, Elena would achieve a new career-high ranking of No.6 in the world, though she would easily be No.3 if she had received the usual 2,000 points for winning Wimbledon.
Kvitova is 16-5 this season, and is into her second final out of the last three WTA 1000 hard court events in United States. She defeated Sorana Cirstea in straight sets in the semifinals. Petra would return to the top 10 with a victory on Saturday.
Rybakina and Kvitova have split two previous meetings. Last year on an indoor hard court in Ostrava, Elena prevailed in straights. Earlier this year in Adelaide, Petra prevailed in straights.
After scarcely surviving her first two rounds this fortnight, coming off her Indian Wells triumph, Rybakina has settled nicely into this tournament, winning her last eight sets. She’s also struck double-digit aces in each of her five matches thus far. And Elena’s composure in these big matches, even with so little experience on a big stage before this past year, may be her most impressive attribute.
Kvitova will not be pleased to see Saturday’s forecast calls for a rather hot and humid day in Miami, with this match played during the hottest part of the afternoon. And Petra usually struggles to play her best tennis in the heat. Rybakina should be favored to win on Saturday and complete the “Sunshine Double.”
Saturday’s full Order of Play is here.
