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

Published at :March 26, 2024 at 11:45 PM

Modified at :March 27, 2024 at 8:16 AM

Elena Rybakina will take on Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open 2024. Ranked fourth in the WTA rankings, the Kazakh advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating USA’s Madison Keys 6-3 7-5 in the pre-quarters. The straight-sets win is a confidence booster result for the 24-year-old after being pushed to three sets in the first two rounds.

Both Taylor Townsend and Clara Tauson pushed Rybakina in the heat of Miami before she came out triumph. It was a testament to her fitness, having missed out on defending her title at Indian Wells due to gastrointestinal issues. The Kazakh seems on her way to finding the mojo she is known to display with three impressive wins.

Her opponent Maria Sakkari has been at her dominating best in the Miami Open so far. After a breezy win in the first round against Yue Yuan (6-2, 6-2), the World No. 9 faced a stiff against Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska. But Sakkari was on the top of her game to register another straight win. In the Round of 16, she got a walkover as her opponent Anna Kalinskaya withdrew due to a thigh injury.

Maria Sakkari vs Elena Rybakina match details

Date: March 27
Time: 4:30 AM IST (Tentative)
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

Maria Sakkari vs Elena Rybakina preview

Rybakina started the season brightly, winning championships in Brisbane and Abu Dhabi and making it to the Doha finals. It was the injury concerns that have been an obstacle for the 24-year-old. She was extremely disappointed to miss out on an opportunity to defend her Indian Wells crown due to injury.

Coming into the Miami Open, fitness was her priority list, and by winning three-setters in the first two rounds she has silenced her doubters. She will look to continue with another impressive performance against Maria Sakkari. The Greek is no lesser player and won’t make it easy for the World No. 4 as we have seen in their previous encounters.

The 28-year-old has been on a roll in March reaching the finals of the Indian Wells. But the finals were a game to be forgotten as the World No. 1 Iga Swiatek steamrolled past her with a 6-4, 6-0 win. Determined as ever, the World No. 9 will look to beat Rybakina which would do a world of good for her confidence.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 3

Elena Rybakina – 2

Maria Sakkari – 1

The World No. 4 Rybakina will face Maria Sakkari for the fourth time. Elena has the upper hand in the head-to-head matches with 2-1. Their previous meeting came in the 2023 WTA finals held at Mexico where the Kazakh came out to triumph in a three-set thriller that included two tie-breakers.

Where and how to watch the live streaming and TV broadcast of Maria Sakkari vs Elena Rybakina, Miami Open 2024 quarter-final match in India?

The WTA 1000 Miami Open is broadcast in India on the Tennis Channel. WTA TV, the official broadcaster, will also host the quarter-final match between Elena Rybakina and Maria Sakkari on their platform. The game is tentatively scheduled for 8:30 PM local time or 4:30 AM (IST) on Wednesday for Indian viewers.

Prediction

Rybakina defeated Keys in straight sets in the fourth round (6-3 7-5). Rybakina blasted 33 winners displaying her power game. Regarding the service games, Rybakina made just one double fault while bagging five aces. Elena Rybakina managed to get one break point while losing the serve once.

Maria hardly dropped a sweat so far and she got a walkover in her previous encounter. Game time is such a huge factor and playing more time on the court and scoring points boosts the confidence of any player. It helped Sakkari in the Indian Wells where she just fell short of winning her first title.

The Skills of both players would weigh the same when put over a balance. But Rybakina’s Serves has been her go-to weapon to defeat her opponents and Wednesday will witness the same strategy against Sakkari. One can expect a three-set thriller between the two, with the World No. 4 Rybakina having the last laugh at the end of the day.

Result: Elena Rybakina to win the game in three sets.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram