Miami Open 2022: Simona Halep vs Daria Saville preview, head-to-head & prediction
Match details
Fixture: (23) Simona Halep vs Daria Saville
Tournament: Miami Open
Round: Second round (Round of 64)
Venue: Miami, Florida, USA
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt
Prize money: $8,584,055
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel & ESPN | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Simona Halep vs Daria Saville preview
No. 23 seed Simona Halep will take on Daria Saville for the first time in nearly six years in the second round of the 2022 Miami Open. While Saville beat Greet Minnen 7-5, 6-3 in her opening match, Halep progressed to the second round courtesy of a walkover.
Halep began the season by winning her 23rd title at the Melbourne Summer Set before suffering a fourth-round exit at the Australian Open. The Romanian bounced back in Dubai where she reached the semifinals, before losing to eventual champion Jelena Ostapenko in three sets.
The two-time Grand Slam winner then charted a blistering run to the last four at Indian Wells, beating the likes of Coco Gauff and Petra Martic along the way. However, she lost a close match to Iga Swiatek, who went on to lift the title.
Nevertheless, her run at Indian Wells propelled her into the world's top 20 for the first time since January. Simona Halep will now be hoping for another strong result in Miami, where she has made the semifinals twice before.
Daria Saville is steadily climbing the rankings ladder after an achilles problem sidelined her for almost the entirety of last year. The former World No. 20 marked her return to form with an emphatic three-set win over reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu in Guadalajara last month.
At Indian Wells, the Aussie navigated her way through qualifying and beat the likes of Ons Jabeur and Elise Mertens en route to the fourth round. A thigh injury, however, cut short her campaign at the WTA 1000 event.
Saville looked healthy in her first-round win in Miami and will be hoping to stay fit for the rest of the season.
Simona Halep vs Daria Saville head-to-head
The duo have met four times before, with Halep leading the head-to-head 3-1. She won their most recent encounter, which took place in 2016 in Cincinnati, in straight sets.
Simona Halep vs Daria Saville prediction
Halep and Saville possess remarkable defensive skills and we can expect some grueling rallies between the two. Halep will look to stay aggressive from the baseline and push Saville on the backfoot with her sharp angles and changes of pace.
Neither player is a strong server, but Halep maintains a healthy first-serve percentage in her matches more often than not. She also avoids leaking double faults, a problem that has troubled Saville in the past. The Romanian will look to attack on return and put pressure on the Aussie's vulnerable serve.
Halep is playing far too well at the moment and although Saville will put up a fight, the Romanian should be able to eke out the win.
Prediction: Halep to win in three sets.