Clara Tauson vs Elena Rybakina Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Miami

Prediction published on 20/03/2024, 10:16  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 21/03/2024 at 12:50 in Tennis Predictions

Fourth seed Elena Rybakina will begin her Miami Open campaign with a second-round showdown with the qualifier Clara Tauson. The winner will then play either Elise Mertens or Taylor Townsend for a place in the fourth round. Clara Tauson defeated Caroline Dolehide in three sets in the first round. This was her first main draw victory in this event. She made her debut in Miami last year and was eliminated in the first round. The Dane, who is now up five places to 86th in the live ranking, has managed 12 wins in 20 outings this season. She has alternated between the tour and challenger circuits and her best results have come in the latter. Tauson is yet to go beyond the second round at a tour-level event.

Elena Rybakina has been one of the most in-form players at top level once again. The world number four has won 17 of the 20 matches she has contested which have all been on hard courts. She has already claimed two titles, in Abu Dhabi and Brisbane and was a finalist in Doha. With this form, she is one of the heavy favourites for the title here. Rybakina is defending 650 points earned in her run to the final here last season. This was her best result at this event and came in her third season of participating. Rybakina is returning to the tour after a month out. The Kazakh fell ill while in action in Dubai and hasn’t competed since. The 24-year-old defeated Tauson the only other time they met, which was in 2019 in Bastad.