Miami Open 2022, Day 6: Women's singles predictions, including Naomi Osaka vs Karolina Muchova & Belinda Bencic vs Heather Watson
The schedule for Day 6 of the Miami Open has been released and there are some exciting matches to look forward to.
Naomi Osaka will take on Karolina Muchova for a place in the fourth round. Only two out of the top 10 seeds feature, with Danielle Collins and Ons Jabeur facing Vera Zvonareva and Kaia Kanepi respectively.
Top-half action will take place across eight courts, starting at 11 a.m. local time (8:30 pm IST, 3 pm GMT)
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the women's singles matches on Day 6 of the 2022 Miami Open.
Miami Open - Saturday schedule https://t.co/XudtuNOHli
#1 Danielle Collins vs Vera Zvonareva
The Australian Open runner-up will face the experienced Vera Zvonareva for a place in the fourth round of the Miami Open. This is the second meeting between the two, with Collins having beaten the Russian at the Madrid Open in 2019.
The American has just returned from injury and had to toil a bit in her match against Anna Bondar in the second round, while Zvonareva beat 19th seed Tamara Zidansek. The match could be tightly contested but Collins will likely come out on top.
Predicted winner: Danielle Collins
#2 Ons Jabeur vs Kaia Kanepi
The eighth-seeded Tunisian will take on the experienced Kaia Kanepi in what will be the third encounter between the two players. Jabeur won both of their previous two meetings at Indian Wells and the US Open in 2015 and 2020 respectively.
The World No. 10 will be heavily favored to beat the Estonian and reach the fourth round of the Miami Open.
Predicted winner: Ons Jabeur
#3 Naomi Osaka vs Karolina Muchova
Osaka will be in high spirits after defeating Angelique Kerber in straight sets. The Japanese has a very good chance of reaching the quarterfinals of the Miami Open this year, given that no seeded player remains in her quarter. Osaka and Muchova will be facing one another for the third time, with the head-to-head currently tied at 1-1.
The former World No. 1 will be heavily favored to defeat the Czech given that Muchova is only just returning from a long injury break to reach the last 16 in Miami.
Predicted winner: Naomi Osaka
#4 Belinda Bencic vs Heather Watson
After beating Marta Kostyuk in straight sets, Bencic will now face Heather Watson, who beat 15th seed Elina Svitolina in the previous round. The Swiss is the highest-ranked player remaining in her quarter and has a good chance of reaching the last eight.
Bencic and Watson will lock horns for the third time, with their head-to-head currently tied at 1-1.
Predicted winner: Belinda Bencic
#5 Irina-Camelia Begu vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Begu and Sasnovich have both had some good runs this year, with the former reaching the semifinals of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy and the latter advancing to the quarterfinals of the same competition.
Begu has won all three of her previous matches against Sasnovich and will be the favorite to beat the Belarusian for a fourth time and seal her place in the fourth round of the Miami Open.
Predicted winner: Irina-Camelia Begu.
#6 Ann Li vs Alison Riske
The two Americans will meet each other for the third time, with their head-to-head currently tied at 1-1. Both players eliminated seeded opponents in the previous round with Riske beating 31st seed Alize Cornet and Li stunning third seed Anett Kontaveit.
The match will likely go the distance but Riske should be able to come out on top.
Predicted winner: Alison Riske
#7 Katerina Siniakova vs Daria Saville
Siniakova and Saville will face each other for the third time. The latter won both previous meetings in 2016 and 2017. Siniakova will be the favorite to win on paper given her significantly higher ranking; the Czech is ranked 53rd while Saville is ranked 249th.
Predicted winner: Katerina Siniakova.
#8 Lucia Bronzetti vs Anna Kalinskaya
After eliminating Karolina Pliskova, Kalinskaya will take on Lucia Bronzetti for a place in the last 16 of the Miami Open. This will be the very first meeting between the two players. Kalinskaya comes into the match-up with superior experience along with a stronger serve and will be favored to win the match
Predicted winner: Anna Kalinskaya