Miami Masters in Miami, 2nd Round, Thursday, 24.03.2022
Women’s tennis is upside down, even though the Miami Open has only just begun! After world number one Ashleigh Barty announced her career end, there will soon be a new queen.
After 2019 and 2021, the Australian will not celebrate a Grand Slam. But among the top favourites is a former number one who now wants to beat the German hope. Read in my Osaka Kerber tip why every match outcome seems to be open and why I think the odds of the bookmakers are a bit too clear!
Iga Swiatek, Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka – if you believe the bookmakers, the Japanese player is a force to be reckoned with in Miami. Anyone who has been following Naomi Osaka for years knows, of course, that she has recently been going through an extremely difficult phase.
Psychological problems, longer breaks, most recently a small emotional breakdown in Indian Wells, the former world number one is not only concerned with sporting matters at the moment. Her performances are to be assessed accordingly.
In Indian Wells, she had already failed in round 2 against Veronika Kudermetova, even losing the first set 0-6. After her disappointing exit at the Australian Open in the 3rd round, the longer break didn’t help much either.
In Miami she was not served a walk-through, she had to play Astra Sharma directly. At 6-3, 6-4, she had everything under control, but also benefited from her weak opponent. She converted two out of eleven break chances, that’s better.
The two have met five times, only once did Osaka rejoice! She won the first and only time at the 2017 US Open, so she’s conceded four in a row since then. It should be added, however, that the most recent match took place at the 2018 WTA Finals, a long time ago.
Angelique Kerber will therefore not mind much that her odds climb to 3.00. She enjoyed a walk-through, only attacking in the 2nd round. The Masters in Miami is not one of her favourite tournaments, she has only reached the semi-finals once here.
In Indian Wells, the player from Kiel was quite convincing, even though she lost narrowly to Iga Swiatek (6-4, 2-6, 3-6) in the last 16. However, she will not have completely overcome her embarrassing first-round loss to Kaia Kanepi at the Australian Open.
Her performance has improved steadily since then, but in small steps. In Indian Wells, her first serve was particularly unsettled, and she won only 48% of her points against Swiatek.
By the way, the first four duels between Kerber and Osaka ended smoothly in two sets, only the most recent one was a tough one for the German at 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. Will we see another longer match on Thursday?
My Osaka Kerber tip
I am a little surprised that the bookmakers have clearly favoured Naomi Osaka. The odds are low, even though the Japanese player is carrying some problems around and doesn’t look fit at all.
In addition, she leads Osaka 4-1, so I can’t imagine a quick match, which is why I’m betting:
We see more than 19.5 games!
