This should be an exciting clash of former Grand Slam champions. Two-time Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova hasn’t shone this year, losing two first-round matches as she tentatively returns from a 17-month maternity hiatus.
2025 WTA Tour
WTA 1000
Miami Open
Miami Gardens, Florida (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Round of 128 Matches- 18th March
Petra Kvitova 2.25 vs Sofia Kenin 0.33
The 35-year-old Czech will be hoping to return to winning ways in a tournament that she clearly loves. Kvitova won this event as recently as 2023 (she has also made three further quarterfinal appearances). These quicker conditions should suit Kvitova’s gameplan. The experienced lefty looks to dominate with a pinpoint serve and potent groundstrokes (she will likely lean on that serve a bit as she works on her match fitness). Kvitova- who has won an incredible 9 WTA 1000 titles- owns an impressive 23-12 record in this event. She hasn’t competed here since 2023 and will be looking to extend her winning streak to seven matches. Will she be ready to compete at this level so soon into her return?
2020 Aussie Open champ Sofia Kenin brings a modest 9-7 record in this year’s Miami Open. However, recent signs suggest that Kenin could be poised to return to something resembling her best form. Kenin has struggled in recent years, battling mental health issues, injuries and a general loss of form. But she picked up some form in the back end of 2024, finishing runner-up at the Pan Pacific Open. In fact, Kenin has now reached the quarterfinals or better in four of her last nine events. She looked impressive during the recent Middle East Swing, going 5-2 in two events (which included elite victories over Vekic, Paolini and Kostyuk). She pushed Kasatkina to three sets at Indian Wells (where she has traditionally struggled in the past). She has a marginally better 5-5 record at the Miami Open (she has never reached the 4th round of this event). She looked strong in Dubai and I think these courts will probably play fairly similarly. She has been moving well this year and will look to exploit Kvitova’s physical limitations.
The Verdict: Kenin to win in three at 2.95- Kvitova leads the head-to-head 2-1, with Kenin winning their last meeting at the 2020 French Open semifinals. I was tempted to opt for Kvitova given her 2023 Miami Open win. But she has hardly played any tennis and is yet to win a tour-level match since returning to action (at the age of 35). Kenin has been slowly improving and she should be able to physically dominate Kvitova in the longer exchanges. Having said that, perhaps Kvitova could steal a set if she dials in with that beautiful lefty service motion.
