Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Petra Kvitová Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Miami

Prediction published on 30/03/2023, 04:00  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 30/03/2023 at 07:15 in Tennis Predictions

Petra Kvitova is in her fourth Miami Open quarter final but is yet to win one. The 15th seed faces Ekaterina Alexandrova who is seeded three places below her. For the winner, a semi-final against either second seed Aryna Sabalenka or unseeded Sorana Cirstea awaits. Kvitova is seeded 15th but began this Miami Open in 12th position. A win over Alexandrova will take her up to 11th place. This is her fourth quarter final of the year and the second in a row after a run to the last eight in Indian Wells. Piling up the points in these WTA 1000 events has taken her up to 15th in the Live WTA Race and reaching the last four would take her up to tenth spot. Kvitova has reached this last eight without dropping a set. The only seed beaten has been Donna Vekic (22nd) but the last round saw her beat qualifier Varvara Gracheva, who recently lost in the ATX Open final.

Ekaterina Alexandrova has been drawn to play Petra Kvitova twice in the past. The first was in  the Australian Open three years ago where she only won three games. The other was later that year but Alexandrova pulled out of their match in St Petersburg with an injury. The Russian began this Miami Open ranked 18th but was a career high 16th last month. This run to the last eight in Miami has her up to 17th in the live rankings and can go up to 13th with a win. Currently she's 33rd in the Live WTA Race, up 23 places. Until this tournament it hasn't been a great year for the 28-year-old. This is her first time past the last 16 of an event and arrived in Miami having lost four of her last five matches. Improved form has produced three wins including beating seventh seeded Maria Sakkari in round two after losing the first set. The last round saw her win a first set tie-break against Bianca Andreescu and her opponent retired in the second set when 2-0 up. Back Kvitoa to finally reach the last four in Miami.