2024 Miami Open women's final preview: Elena Rybakina vs. Danielle Collins is always 'neck and neck'

By Steve Tignor Mar 29, 2024

Miami, USA

Three to See, Miami Day 5: Tsitsipas vs. Gasquet, Pegula vs. Collins, Rybakina vs. Badosa

Before each day's play at the Miami Open, we'll preview three must-see matches.

Published Mar 25, 2023

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Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Richard Gasquet

Lovers of the one-handed backhand will want to tune in when the Greek and the Frenchman face off at noon on the stadium court. There may not be many more chances to see the 36-year-old Gasquet show off his stylishly elaborate version of the shot. While Tsitsipas’ backhand is a liability overall, it also helps make his game much more dynamic and forward-moving.

These two are 1-1 against each other, but they haven’t met in nearly five years. Both got off to strong starts in 2023: Tsitsipas made the final of the Australian Open; Gasquet won a surprise title in Auckland. Since then, though, each has been muddling along. Gasquet will be the sentimental favorite on Saturday, but it seems like it’s time for Tsitsipas to start turning his season back around. Winner: Tsitsipas

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Jessica Pegula vs. Danielle Collins

These two Americans are the same age, but right now it feels as if the future belongs to Pegula while the past belongs to Collins. Pegula is at a career-high No. 3 in the world, while Collins is 23 spots off her own high of No. 7. Collins’ runner-up finish at the Australian Open in 2022 also feels like it happened much more than just a year ago.

At her best, Collins is capable of hitting Pegula off the court, and she began to show signs of her old self earlier this this month when she made the semis in Austin. But Pegula is the steadier and more reliable of the two, and she leads their head-to-head 3-0. Winner: Pegula

Which American are you going with: Pegula or Collins?

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Elena Rybakina vs. Paula Badosa

The fortunes of the Kazakh and the Spaniard have move in diametrically opposed directions over the past 12 months. A year ago, Badosa looked like a possible future No. 1; now she’s ranked 29th. A year ago, Rybakina was just one of a crowd of young Top 25 hopefuls; now she’s the Wimbledon champion, the Australian Open runner-up, and someone who seems to get better by the month. Coming into Indian Wells two weeks ago, Badosa still held a 4-1 advantage in their head-to-head. But Rybakina began to turn the tables there with a 6-3, 7-5 win.

Badosa may have a slightly better chance in Miami, because Rybakina may be getting weary. She’s coming off a title run in Indian Wells, and a three-set win on Thursday over Anna Kalinskaya. But all else being equal, Rybakina is still the better player, and more important, the better finisher, at the moment. Winner: Rybakina

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