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Match details
Fixture: Sofia Kenin vs Andrea Petkovic
Date: 26 March 2021
Tournament: Miami Open 2021
Round: Second round (Round of 64)
Venue: Miami, Florida
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize money: $3,340,000
Match timing: Not before 7 pm local time, 4.30 am IST
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Eurosport
Sofia Kenin vs Andrea Petkovic preview
Sofia Kenin is all set to return to action after having undergone an emergency appendectomy at the end of the Australian Open series last month.
The World No. 4 will take on former top 10 player Andrea Petkovic on Friday, in the second round of the 2021 Miami Open. Petkovic scored a resounding 7-5, 6-1 win over Zhang Shuai in her opening round at Miami.
The German had announced her plans to retire at the end of last season, but chose to backtrack on her decision after the tour shut down due to the pandemic. She then made a decent start to 2021, reaching the second round at the Gippsland Trophy. Difficult draws and rusty play have, however, prevented her from earning wins since then.
Against the returning Kenin, Petkovic will sense an opportunity for a big upset win.
Sofia Kenin vs Andrea Petkovic head-to-head
This is set to be the first career meeting between Sofia Kenin and Andrea Petkovic, so their current head-to-head stands at a 0-0 deadlock.
Sofia Kenin vs Andrea Petkovic prediction
Sofia Kenin earned the much-deserved WTA Player of the Year trophy at the end of last season. But she has looked a pale shadow of her 2020 self in the first few months of the new season.
The American struggled to cope with the pressure of defending her title in Melbourne, and lackluster showings elsewhere have only added to her troubles. She looked out of sorts during her defeat against an unheralded Olivia Gadecki at the Phillip Island Trophy, and needs a complete reset here.
That's precisely why this could prove to be a big chance for Andrea Petkovic, who has been looking to resurrect her own career for quite some time now.
This is a big match for both women, who have similarly well-rounded games. Petkovic arguably has the bigger groundstrokes, but more than the baseline game, she will need to find a way to break down the mentally strong Kenin to come out on top here.
Prediction: Andrea Petkovic to win in three sets.
