WTA Masters in Miami, Final, Saturday, 02.04.2022
Final time in Miami! The two best players of the tournament have been found and could not be more different. One of them was considered the absolute top favourite from the start. The other, however, is a big surprise.
A former world No. 1 is suddenly unpacking her top form again at this Masters, which nobody had expected. But the bookmakers have a Polish favourite. Read my Osaka Swiatek tip to see if I agree with the prediction!
Let’s start with the finalist who, according to the bookmakers with a German licence, was actually already decided before the tournament began. Iga Swiatek, the world number 2, has withstood the pressure and has not dropped a single set so far.
She even got through to the quarter-finals with a maximum of three games lost per set. Viktorija Golubic (6-2, 6-0), Madison Brengle (6-0, 6-3) went down completely against the Pole and even the American prodigy Cori Gauff had nothing to say.
Swiatek triumphed 6-3, 6-1 and had as little trouble as she did in the following 6-3, 6-3 against Petra Kvitova. If the 20-year-old had to fight a little at all, it was briefly in her semi-final against Jessica Pegula.
After winning the first set 6-2 in her usual commanding manner, Swiatek allowed herself a close 7-5 in the second. Actually, it’s unbelievable that this set already has to be used as a negative point of criticism.
Since day 1 in Miami she has played a perfect tournament. So of course it explains itself quickly that she is also considered the favourite in the final. With a 1.60 at the top, the single bet pays off for the first time.
Will she have enough self-confidence to win the title? In Indian Wells, the young Pole had dropped three sets, but stormed to the top in the end with a clear victory over Maria Sakkari.
Since she also triumphed in Qatar, she could now achieve the title hat-trick. And since Ashleigh Barty will end her career, the new number 1 will soon be called Iga Swiatek!
The second finalist would not have surprised anyone a year or two ago, but today she does all the more. Naomi Osaka slipped further and further down the world rankings and is now only ranked 77.
Whether athletically or psychologically, the Japanese player struggled with ever-increasing problems. There was even talk of a premature end to her career. At the Australian Open she was knocked out in round 3, and in Indian Wells she was knocked out in round 2.
So how did the performance explosion in Miami come about? After beating Angelique Kerber very confidently 6-3, 6-2, she progressed without a fight against Karolina Muchova to face Alison Riske.
6-3, 6-4, Osaka also mastered this task with flying colours. Even more impressive, however, was her victory over Danielle Collins, whom she outplayed 6-2, 6-1. Her toughest opponent was Belinda Bencic.
The Swiss won the first set 6-4, but then Osaka started to catch up. 6-3 and 6-4, also thanks to her 18 aces she made it to the final. This will be only her second head-to-head clash since her 7-6, 6-4 loss to Swiatek in 2019.
My Osaka Swiatek Tip
The fact that Naomi Osaka also emerges as the underdog in this final in my analysis has of course to do with the phenomenal performances of Iga Swiatek. The Pole beat all her opponents straight up, conceding more than three games only once.
I expect a fairly even match, but I can’t imagine Swiatek missing out on her third title in a row.
Therefore, I bet: Iga Swiatek wins the Miami Open 2022!
