Miami Open 2024: Iga Swiatek vs Ekaterina Alexandrova preview, head-to-head, prediction, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Iga Swiatek vs (14) Ekaterina Alexandrova
Date: Monday, March 25
Tournament: Miami Open 2024
Round: Fourth Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hardcourt (Outdoor)
Prize Money: $8,995,555
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel & TC Plus | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN & TVA
Iga Swiatek vs Ekaterina Alexandrova preview
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek will continue her quest for a second Miami Open title against 14th Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round on Monday, March 25.
Swiatek kicked off her campaign with a comfortable 6-1, 6-1 victory against Camila Giorgi in the second round. She went up against 26th seed Linda Noskova in the third round, an opponent she's met twice already this season.
The pair traded breaks of serve early, but Swiatek broke once again to take the upper hand. She failed to serve out the set and ultimately succumbed to a grueling tie-breaker.
Swiatek jumped to an early lead in the second, breaking in the very first game. She broke once more in the fifth game to take a 4-1 lead. She finally took the set 5-4 after once again failing to serve out the set at 5-2. A break in the fifth game of the final set proved to be enough for the Pole to seal a 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-4 win.
Alexandrova, meanwhile, kicked off her campaign in Miami with a dominating 6-3, 6-4 win over Donna Vekic in the second round.
Up against compatriot and 21st seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the third round, Alexandrova jumped to the early lead and sealed the first set. Pavlyuchenkova fought back in the second with a barrage of powerful hits from the baseline to claim the second. Alexandrova fought back in the third, ultimately sealing a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win.
Iga Swiatek vs Ekaterina Alexandrova head-to-head
Iga Swiatek and Ekaterina Alexandrova have faced off four times on tour, with the Pole winning their last meeting 6-1, 6-4 in Qatar earlier this year.
Iga Swiatek vs Ekaterina Alexandrova odds
(Odds to be added once made available)
Iga Swiatek vs Ekaterina Alexandrova prediction
Iga Swiatek looked off-color for some parts during her match against Noskova but ultimately showed her class when it mattered the most.
Despite not playing the decisive points as well as she usually does, she ultimately held her nerve to serve out the match down 0-40. She had failed to serve out the set twice before in the match.
Alexandrova also started strong but was given a tough fight in the previous round by Pavlyuchenkova. Alexandrova however found success on her serve winning 70% of points behind her first serve and 82% of points behind her second serve. She also broke her opponent's serve thrice in as many opportunities as presented.
Swiatek and Alexandrova have had a couple of tough battles in the past and there is no discounting an upset from the lower-ranked Russian.
Swiatek, however, holds the upper hand and is the favorite to go through.
Pick: Iga Swiatek in three sets.