Miami Open 2024: Taylor Townsend vs Elena Rybakina Preview; Head-to-Head, and Prediction

Fans are buzzing with excitement as they will be treated to a spectacular Miami Open match after the conclusion of the round of 64 fixtures. On her home turf, the American tennis star Taylor Townsend will square off against the former Grand Slam champion and the fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina in the third-round game.

Townsend and Rybakina are both players of high caliber and have performed brilliantly in their recent matches at the Hard Rock Stadium. As they both will be looking to secure a place in the latter rounds of this esteemed WTA 1ooo event, it will be fascinating to see who emerges victorious in this blockbuster encounter in Miami Gardens.

Taylor Townsend vs Elena Rybakina: Miami Open round of 32 match preview

The unseeded American tennis player has secured a spot in the main draw of this outdoor hardcourt tournament after her qualifying round wins against the likes of Emina Bektas and Laura Pigossi. In her opening match, Taylor Townsend pulled off a brilliant comeback against Lucia Bronzetti as she prevailed in a three-set thriller, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. She then brushed aside her Belgian opponent Elise Mertens in straight sets, in the round of 64.

Elena Rybakina, on the other hand, is coming to the Miami Open after her quarterfinal finish at the Dubai Tennis Championship, where she had to withdraw due to illness. Now entering the WTA 1ooo event as the fourth seed, the Kazakhstani tennis star made a comeback against her unseeded opponent Clara Tauson, as she won with a score of 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Townsend vs Rybakina: Head-to-Head

The round-of-32 match between Taylor Townsend and Elena Rybakina at the Hard Rock Stadium will also mark their first meeting on the women’s circuit. With no prior confrontations between Townsend and Rybakina, their H2H record is currently locked at 0-0.

Prediction: Rybakina to come out on top in the R32 match of the Miami Open

The Kazakhstani player has won seven titles, including two WTA 1000 triumphs, while she was also the runner-up in the previous season’s Miami Open. On top of having a 69% point conversion rate on her first serve, Rybakina also has a solid 145-69 record on the hard court surface.

Given her current ranking and brilliant past performances on the hard courts, the former Grand Slam champion is the favorite to win this match and also the championship. Who do you think will prevail in this round-of-32 encounter between Townsend and Rybakina? Let us know in the comments section.

Read More: ‘I Don’t Care’ – Taylor Townsend Issues a Bold Challenge to Elena Rybakina With Her Fearless Attitude at Miami Open