To see detailed h2h stats and predictions for Petra Kvitova vs Sorana Cirstea, see our Stevegtennis head to head prediction here.
While Elena Rybakina’s spot in the Miami Open final is anything but a surprise, the identity of her opponent will very much be. A resurgent Sorana Cirstea will be hoping to make her second WTA 1000 final following Canada 2013 while Petra Kvitova had not made it past the quarter finals of a Sunshine Double tournament before this event. The Czech does lead the head-to-head 6-4 but Cirstea has done better in recent times, winning two of three since the start of 2021.
On many occasions, these shock runs by unseeded players often come as a result of a broken draw but Cirstea’s has to be considered anything but with a dangerous draw nearly the whole way through. The pinnacle of the run is definitely her 6-4 6-4 win over Aryna Sabalenka, who has probably been the best player on tour this year. “I think I’m a bit speechless,” Cirstea said afterwards. “I came out knowing that it’s going to be a really tough match. Aryna hits so hard, so I knew I had to hold my ground, and I’m very, very happy with my performance today.”
Kvitova’s struggling during the Sunshine Double due to the weather conditions has been a common theme in her career but something does look to have changed recently with her Indian Wells quarter final and at least a semi final here. The No.12 dealt well with the pressure in her three set win over Ekaterina Alexandrova, winning the last three games to take it 6-4 3-6 6-3. “I have to say it was a tough one, for sure, especially mentally,” Kvitova said in her postmatch press conference. “Ekaterina played amazing. I would say she was really striking the ball very clearly, and it was really difficult to face some serves of hers.”
The addition of 2002 Australian Open winner Thomas Johansson to her team looks to have paid off massively for Cirstea, who credits him for helping improve her tennis IQ and decision making on court. While she won’t be the favourite coming into this one, the pressure will be on for her to follow up after a big win where many fail to do so. Kvitova is still the one you’d favour in pressure moments but it would be no surprise if this one went the distance even though Cirstea is yet to drop a set this fortnight.
Prediction – Petra Kvitova in three sets
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