After Aryna Sabalenka won an epic Indian Wells final against Elena Rybakina, the WTA Tour moves to Miami for another 1000 tournament. While the seeds won’t be in action until Day 3 of the tournament, the first two days also promise lots of exciting matches between unseeded players looking to start a strong run here.

WTA Miami Day 1 Predictions
Katie Boulter vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

Head-to-head: Maneiro 1-0 Boulter

When the pair faced at the 2024 US Open, it was a very tight two setter won by Bouzas Maneiro and it should be a very close match here too. This time around, Boulter has been in better form so far this year and might just be able to get revenge for that US Open loss here. In any case, it should be a very close match decided by the finest of margins.
Prediction: Boulter in 3

Zeynep Sonmez vs Beatriz Haddad Maia

Head-to-head: first meeting

Haddad Maia has been struggling a lot in 2026, coming into this tournament on a five-match losing streak and with only one win all year. Sonmez, on the other hand, has been having a nice 2026; although Haddad Maia is easily the more decorated player of the two, on current form Sonmez has an excellent chance to advance here.
Prediction: Sonmez in 3

Simona Waltert vs Ajla Tomljanovic

Head-to-head: Walter 1-0 Tomljanovic

Waltert won with relative ease when the pair faced last year in Singapure, but it should be much closer this time. There is very little to separate both players in terms of ranking and level of play, but Waltert is going through a rough patch, coming into this tournament on a four-match losing streak. As it stands, Tomljanovic might have the slight edge here.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 3

McCartney Kessler vs Magdalena Frech

Head-to-head: first meeting

This is another very even matchup, with very little to choose between both players. They have been playing at very similar levels so far in 2026, and their first career meeting should end up being a very close encounter, with small details in the big points deciding the winner.
Prediction: Kessler in 3

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