After a thrilling fortnight in Indian Wells, the WTA Tour shifts its focus to Florida for the 38th edition of the Miami Open. In this article, we shall delve into the list of favorites, players to watch, and dark horses to win the most prestigious WTA tournament outside the four Slams.

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WTA Miami Open 2023 Betting Tips & Predictions

Women’s Singles: Favorites to Win the 2023 Miami Open

Iga Swiatek is the defending champion of the Miami Open. Last year she completed a rare feat of sweeping the Sunshine Double. But after losing in the semifinal to Elena Rybakina at the weekend in Indian Wells, Swiatek admitted she wasn’t operating at 100% due to a rib injury.

The Miami Open organizers will be sweating on Swiatek’s fitness tests and there is a high chance she might withdraw from the event.

With Swiatek potentially out of the reckoning, this could open up the door for a new champion at the Miami Open. Among the list of favorites is American Jessica Pegula who has reached the quarterfinals or better in three WTA tournaments this year.

Pegula was on the wrong end of a straight-sets beatdown against Swiatek in the Doha final. With the Pole unlikely to mount a successful title defense in Miami, we fancy the top-ranked American to be a metronome of consistency and go one better than last year’s semifinal showing in Florida.

With Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka doing battle in the Indian Wells final at the time of writing, we are steering clear from backing either of them in the outright market.

Instead, 19-year-old Coco Gauff could generate plenty of interest as a potential winner. Gauff has not won a WTA 1000 in her career, but she has had the best start to a season since turning pro. Gauff has lost to Swiatek and Sabalenka in her last two tournaments, so clearly, the young American is doing some great work against players she is expected to beat.

Women’s Singles: Players to Watch at the Miami Open

The conditions in Indian Wells did not favor most of the big hitters, but that will be different in Miami. Although Ironically, the two finalists in California are both heavy hitters on the women’s tour.

Petra Kvitova reached her third quarterfinal in Indian Wells last week, sneaking past Jessica Pegula in the fourth round in dramatic circumstances, saving multiple match points. We like the Czech to make serious noise in Florida. Kvitova has not made it beyond the last eight in the March double-header. But she is playing some of the best tennis of her life this year and could be due for a late, deep run in her storied career.

Belinda Bencic lost to countrywoman Jil Teichmann on her birthday in Indian Wells this past week. Again, Bencic is one of those players who is playing picture-perfect tennis in 2023 and will be widely expected to bounce back in excellent fashion in Miami.

The Swiss lady has a history in North America (won Toronto in 2015 as an 18-year-old) and reached the semis in Miami last season. Bencic is among the top favorites to walk away with glass from the Hard Rock Stadium.

To Win the Tournament: Belinda Bencic: 12/1 (Click here to bet with bet365)

Women’s Singles: Dark Horses to Reach Second Week at Indian Wells

There weren’t major storylines as far as big shocks were concerned in Indian Wells. But the underdog story in Miami has been somewhat of a norm in the past two decades.

The likes of Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka have each won this tournament after returning from maternity leave. Johanna Konta pulled off a surprise back in 2017, while American Sloane Stephens came full circle a year later.

So we cannot rule out an underdog story this year, especially with the field potentially being as open as ever. Spain’s Paula Badosa has battled a series of injuries this year and has been a tad unlucky with the draws of late.

Now that she is healthy again, look out for the Manhattan-born Spaniard to come full circle in Florida. Badosa has won the Indian Wells tournament back in 2021, a success that helped unearth her into the big time. Expect this year’s Miami Open to rekindle her season.

Donna Vekic didn’t have a productive fortnight in Indian Wells. Shortly after winning Monterrey, Vekic lost in a high-tempered second-round match to Lesia Tsurenko in California. But with almost two weeks of rest time, the Croatian could give any top player a run for her money.

Russia’s Anastasia Potapova gave World No. 3 Jessica Pegula an incredibly rough time in Indian Wells. I think Potapova might have a surprise up her sleeve in Miami provided she can keep her aggressive brand of tennis under control. The 21-year-old sits at a career-high ranking of No. 28 and will be seeded at the tournament.