Wednesday features four singles quarterfinals, all of them clashes between seeded players. 2020 Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek faces two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, while the other WTA quarterfinal sees 2021 Indian Wells champ Paula Badosa take on American Jessica Pegula.
On the ATP side, two top 10 players collide as Sascha Zverev faces Casper Ruud. And Jannik Sinner, who has already survived eight match points this tournament, as well as the ridiculous circus created by Nick Kyrgios on Tuesday, plays American Frances Tiafoe.
Each day, this preview will analyze the two most intriguing matchups, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule. Wednesday’s singles quarterfinals get underway at 1:00pm local time.
Iga Swiatek (2) vs. Petra Kvitova (28) – Not Before 7:00pm on Stadium Court
Swiatek is now an excellent 23-3 on the season, and is vying for her third consecutive WTA 1000 title, coming off wins in both Doha and Indian Wells. Iga has been crushing all comers, dropping only nine games across six sets to this stage. By contrast, Kvitova arrived in Miami with a losing record this year, and was only 14-11 lifetime in Miami. As a player who normally struggles in warmer climates, her quarterfinal run is a bit of a surprise. She fought through a few tight matches to make this round, though she’s yet to face a player of Swiatek’s caliber. This will be their first career encounter. Based on recent form, Iga is a clear favorite. And unlike some other players, she seems unbothered by playing lefties. As per Tennis Abstract, Swiatek has claimed her last seven matches against left-handed opponents.
Sascha Zverev (2) vs. Casper Ruud (6) – Not Before 9:00pm on Stadium Court
Zverev is certainly the more accomplished player, especially on hard courts. Yet Ruud has dominated the competition this fortnight. He’s yet to drop a set, and most recently took out an in-form Cam Norrie on Tuesday in straight sets. But Sascha’s hard court prowess is well-documented. Last year alone, he won six titles on this surface. Meanwhile, six of Ruud’s seven titles have come on clay, with the lone exception being last fall’s San Diego Open. They have played twice before, with both contests taking place on hard courts in 2021. And the German took both matchups in straights. Considering Zverev’s superior serve and more powerful groundstrokes, there’s not much evidence to support a different result on Wednesday.
Other Notable Matches on Wednesday:
Paula Badosa (5) vs. Jessica Pegula (16) – Both players are yet to drop a set. This will be their first career meeting. A win would propel Badosa into the No.2 ranking spot.
Jannik Sinner (9) vs. Francisco Cerundolo – Incredibly, Cerundolo had never won an ATP match on a hard court prior to this event. He benefited from Frances Tiafoe suffering a back injury during their fourth round match on Tuesday, though he’s played excellently and fully deserves this spot in the quarterfinals. But Sinner was the Miami runner-up a year ago, and will be a significant favorite.
Coco Gauff and Katy McNally (4) vs. Alize Cornet and Jil Teichmann – Gauff and McNally are a regular doubles team, and own three titles. This is Cornet and Teichmann’s first event as a team.
Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury (2) vs. Hubert Hurkacz and John Isner (WC) – Salisbury is set to become the new doubles No.1 on Monday. He and Ram have won two Majors together. This is the first tournament Hurkacz and Isner have played together in over 18 months.
Wednesday’s full Order of Play is here.
