The quarterfinals at the WTA Miami Open are set and will be played over two days. The bottom half, featuring Coco Gauff and Victoria Mboko, will play on Tuesday, while the top half, featuring Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, will compete on Wednesday. As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for all four matches, but who will advance to the semifinals?

WTA Miami Quarterfinal Predictions
Victoria Mboko vs Karolina Muchova

Head-to-Head: Mboko 0-1 Muchova

This is a rematch of last month’s Qatar Open final in Doha, where Karolina Muchova won in two tight sets. Muchova was superb in the fourth round against Alexandra Eala, losing only two games and facing no break points on her serve. She is showing that when she is healthy, she is one of the best players on the tour. With her big win over Mirra Andreeva, Victoria Mboko has now made at least the quarterfinals of all the WTA 1000 tournaments played this season, and she will be eager to avenge the Doha loss. However, Muchova’s game and focus look unwavering, and I will go with her to win once again.

Prediction: Muchova in 3

Coco Gauff vs Belinda Bencic

Head-to-Head: Gauff 4-2 Bencic

No. 4 seed Coco Gauff is in her first Miami Open quarterfinals as she won another three-setter in the fourth round against Sorana Cirstea and booked her spot. She is the youngest player to reach the quarterfinals of all WTA 1000 tournaments. Her level is improving with each match, and she will need to raise it further against Belinda Bencic, who easily defeated No. 6 seed Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round. Bencic’s ball striking was impressive, but Anisimova didn’t offer much resistance. I think Gauff’s defense will overwhelm Bencic, but the American will need to keep her double faults in check.

Prediction: Gauff in 3

Aryna Sabalenka vs Hailey Baptiste

Head-to-Head: first meeting

Hailey Baptiste continues her fantastic run at the Miami Open as she defeated former champion Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets. Baptiste was better in both serve and return. She saved 9 of 10 break points thanks to her timely aces and was all over Ostapenko’s second serve. She will need her serve to be firing once again to make it close against the World No. 1. Aryna Sabalenka is on a nine-match win streak, and it will take a special performance to stop her streak.

Prediction: Sabalenka in 2

Elena Rybakina vs Jessica Pegula

Head-to-Head: Rybakina 5-3 Pegula

Elena Rybakina ended Talia Gibson’s run with a clinical performance and will make her third quarterfinal appearance at the Miami Open. Rybakina made 73% of her first serves, won 84% of points behind them, and did not get broken. If she can maintain this serving level, she will find herself in a good position to defeat Jessica Pegula for the third time this season. Pegula has lost just three matches this season, and two have come against Rybakina. Given Pegula’s current level, I expect this to be a closer match than the last two, but Rybakina has the edge.

Prediction: Rybakina in 3

Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – Imagn Images