Miami Open 2024: Madison Keys vs Elena Rybakina preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming details

Published at :March 25, 2024 at 11:49 PM

Modified at :March 25, 2024 at 11:49 PM

(Courtesy : Tennis Majors)

The American Keys has the edge over fourth-seed Rybakina in h2h records.

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina avoided joining the exodus of top seeds on Saturday, edging out Taylor Townsend 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-4 to advance to the last 16 of the Miami Open 2024 at the Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday night. Day 5 of the 2024 Miami Open saw four of the top 10 seeds exit the stage — including Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka, AO finalist Qinwen Zheng, Ons Jabeur and Jelena Ostapenko.

Rybakina, a finalist last year, will face the No 17 seed American Madison Keys in the fourth round. Keys progressed with a 6-4, 7-6(5) win over Wang Xinyu. The 18th-ranked American completed an under-the-radar run at the 2023 US Open and is a step away from equalling her best performance at Maimi. Keys is a Miami Open quarterfinalist.Elena Rybakina may be a dark horse at the Hard Rock Stadium, but if she is 100% fit, she is worth betting on and is one of the players to watch during the fortnight.

Madison Keys vs Elena Rybakina preview

Injuries have dogged Rybakina since early in the season, with the Kazakh making two back-to-back exits from high-profile events. With a chunk of possible rivals to the title out of action, the decks are relatively clear for the Kazakh to make her second straight final and with some luck, pocket her maiden Miami Open trophy.

Only one among the top ten 10 remains in Rybakina’s half of the draw — eighth seed and 2024 Indian Wells finalist Maria Sakkari.

Madison Keys has had an easier time getting into the round of 16 — spending just under three hours for both her matches and is yet to lose a set in the 2024 edition of the Miami Open. She made short work of Diana Shnaider with a 6-2, 6-4 victory in just 75 minutes. Keys spent more time on the court for her win against Wang Xinyu, besting the Chinese with a second-set tiebreak 6-4, 7-6(5) in an hour and 43 minutes.

Her round-of-16 rival, Rybakina, had to climb back from a one-set deficit against Denmark’s Clara Tauson before pulling off a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 win in the second round. It was the second-longest match in the round of 64, clocking 2 hours and 27 minutes. The Kazakh World No. 4 took a near identical 2 hours and 24 minutes to quell Taylor Townsend’s challenge for a 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-4 win.

Rybakina will back herself to reach the semi-final in a potential match-up against Maria Sakkari. Possible semi-final opponents include British No. 1 Katie Boulter or three-time champion Victoria Azarenka.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 3

Madison Keys – 2

Elena Rybakina – 1

Madison Keys has the measure of Elena Rybakina as seen in their head-to-head record. The duo have met three times on tour – all in 2022. Keys claimed wins in Paris and Cincinnati, while Rybakina did the honours in Ostrava. Both players have seven titles each on the WTA tour.

Where and how to watch the live streaming and TV broadcast of Madison Keys vs Elena Rybakina, Miami Open 2024 fourth-round match in India?

Matches on Day 9 will begin at 7 PM local time. Madison Keys and Elena Rybakina will make their way courtside for their round of 16 match on Monday, 25th March.

With no official broadcast partner available, the fourth-round game between Rybakina and Keys will be live on Tennis TV and WTA TV. The WTA 1000 event hosts all its matches on the mentioned streaming services.

Prediction

Keys and Rybakina will be playing each other after a gap of two years. Since their last meeting in October 2022 at Ostrava, Rybakina has won two WTA 1000 events in 2023 at Indian Wells and Rome. The Kazakh is a healthy 19-4 this year and 9-3 at Miami. She also lifted her maiden Grand Slam trophy at Wimbledon the same year. Rybakina is 28-12 (70%) at WTA 1000 events in North America.

Keys appears to have run into some headwinds despite leading in their head-to-head. Her two semi-final appearances at Grand Slams since the beginning of 2022, among five overall, have yet to translate into a win. The American’s best performance at a major remains the 2017 US Open final. She is 11-12 in Miami and is 3-1 this year. The 29-year-old Keys is 44-36 (55%) in WTA 1000 events played in North America.

In the year-to-date stats, Rybakina has an edge over Keys. With 72% of first-serve points won, Rybakina is far ahead of Keys, who trails with a 61% win rate. The big-serving World No. 4 has won 81.7% of her service games to 60% by the American. Rybakina performs better under pressure, saving 64.3% of breakpoints faced, compared to 56.5% by Keys.

Finally, the hard-hitting Kazakh averages 44 winners per match in 2024 against 33 by Keys. These numbers point to only one outcome, but if Keys can take a set off the World No. 4, she can make a match of it. Keys has won three of her last five games that have lasted three sets.

Result: Elena Rybakina to win in three sets.

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