In a star of professional tennis players, Karolina Pliskova and Jessica Pegula, surprisingly, beat Sunday for the third time… this month.
When Pliskova defeated Zheng Saisai 6-2, 6-, 1 and Pegula defeated Storm Sanders wild card 6-3, 6-4, they locked down a meeting in the third round of the Miami Open.
Pliskova is No. 6 with 0-2 seeds against Pegula – and it hasn’t been close. On March 4, the Americans took a Doha quarterback 6-3, 6-1. On March 10, the Dubai round of 16 was a terrific 6-0, 6-2 result. Do the math: That’s six games in four sets for Pliskova.
After reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the semifinals in Doha, Pegula’s number 29 seed is 13-5, and her 18 games played fourth place among WTA players.
Sunday in Miami will be a terrifying day of tennis, with a 22-game winning streak on the lineup, along with four Grand Slam champions and a progressive teenager in action.
Five of the eight games meet for the first time.
No. 2 Naomi Osaka vs. Nina Stojanovic
Osaka is the author of the 22 consecutive victories. She had some weird moments against Ajla Tomljanovic but found a balance and won 7-6 (3), 6-4.
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She’s a first-time runner-up in the Porsche Race to Shenzhen, but this caveat is fattening: In four previous appearances, Osaka was never past the third round of the Miami Open.
“I feel like my results, there is always a story behind them,” Osaka said in her last post-match press conference. “One year when I played here it was after I won Indian Wells and I felt like I was thinking. The next year I wasn’t doing as well on the hard courts, so it was like losing back.
“I don’t think it’s too much for you to read into them. But I always feel that there’s always a reason I didn’t do well here, and I hope I can do well this time. “
Stojanovic, who qualified for the 95th level, saved two match points to upset seed No. 26 Yulia Putintseva 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 in the second round.
These two have not yet met.
No. 8 Bianca Andreescu vs. number 28 Amanda Anisimova
On Monday, the day before the competition started, Anisimova was completing a phone interview.
When asked about her ability to play Andreescu in the third round, she volunteered, “I was working with her today. I would be excited to play Bianca. I never played it. “
It’s the first time for everything, and here it is for the 19-year-old American. She passed Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-3, despite suffering a bit from the heat and humidity.
Andreescu, who missed the entire 2020 season with a knee injury, only played seven games this year. She looked a bit rusty against the Tereza Martincova qualification but survived two set points and advanced 7-6 (5), 6-2. This was her first game since the Australian swing.
“This is my third competition back,” Andreescu said, “So it’s a little bit different, but once I keep playing games I know I can get back into the game. a dilemma of just being back on tour. But I feel really good. I am very proud of myself for the way I handled everything. “
LEARNING: Finding a balance between tennis and health key to Andreescu’s success
Andreescu said she was unaware that Anisimova was her next enemy.
“It hits really smooth,” Andreescu said, “I have to be ready for everything. It has really good service, but I feel good out there and I think it will be a really good game. ”
No. 12 Garbine Muguruza vs. Anna Kalinskaya
She is ranked 13th, but Muguruza is second in the Porsche Race to Shenzhen with a staggering 19-4 record for 2021. These 23 games are the most touring and her 19 winners are unparalleled.
Muguruza defeated Wang Xinyu 6-4, 6-1.
LEARN: Muguruza, Mertens leads seed cost in Miami
She said she was embarrassed beforehand because Miami is a tournament in which she loves to play.
“Playing well in the Middle East swing, I just wanted to maintain the same energy and the same tennis quality,” Muguruza said. “It was very windy so that makes it very difficult. Playing a little bit as an unknown player, you know, you’ll never know either. ”
Kalinskaya, who is ranked at 115th, bothered 20 Petra Martic seeds 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (4).
This is their first meeting.
No. 4 Sofia Kenin vs. No. 27 Ons Jabeur
Kenin throw down Andrea Petkovic 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-3 in her first game back after an emergency appendectomy.
After going 3-3 in Australia, the Australian Open defender was admitted to a hospital in Melbourne in mid-February.
“Of course it felt a little different,” Kenin said. “I just felt a little out of touch with the warm-up, and once we started playing, you know, I looked, and I was, like,` Are you going to say `Play ‘?
“Yeah, I probably felt a little more anxious at first, the first game after I had the surgery and all. I said to myself, “Keep fighting. ”
Jabeur battled illness in her three-set win over Paula Badosa, overcoming a service break in the third set.
Kenin maintains a strong 5-1 head-to-head margin, including direct sets at last year’s U.S. Open and the French Open.
No. 21 Elena Rybakina vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Sorribes Tormo thrashed No. 13 Jennifer Brady 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a battle of two of the most formal players on the tour. Brady was a finalist in the Australian Open.
“I can’t believe it,” said Sorribes Tormo with a smile, “so I’m just super excited. I think today is one of the best games I have ever played. I am 100 percent sure. I don’t want to say that this is the best game I’ve played, but I’m sure this is one of the best. ”
The 24-year-old Spaniard is coming off an incredible two weeks in Mexico, winning her first title in Guadalajara (over Eugenie Bouchard in the final) and reaching the semifinals in Monterrey. She is 13-4 for 2021 – and the last to defeat Naomi Osaka back in February 2020. She is also the only player to save game points and win – twice.
Rybakina outscored Kaia Kanepi 6-4, 6-0.
These two never played.
No. 23 Maria Sakkari vs. Liudmila Samsonova
Samsonova, a 22-year-old Russian upset No. 10 Kiki Bertens 6-2, 6-1 – the highest seed left by the tournament so far. Samsonova, who qualifies for 126, is a 8-4 tier for 2021.
Sakkari defeated Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-3.
This is another meeting for the first time.
No. 16 Elise Mertens vs. 22 22 Anett Kontaveit
Mertens defeated Katie Boulter 6-4, 6-1, while Kontaveit Sorana Cirstea handled 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Mertens has a 2-1 face-to-face win, having recently won at Sydney in 2019.