McCartney Kessler has emerged as a breakout star this season. Her victory in Hobart marked her second WTA Tour title, and her impressive run to the ATX Open final, capped by a standing ovation from Matthew McConaughey, solidified her rising status. Currently, Kessler is riding a wave of success, building on her strong performances. Now, she sets her sights on the Miami Open, where she’ll face Marie Bouzkova in the first round. The question is: can Kessler maintain her momentum and overcome Bouzkova in this crucial Miami clash?

McCartney Kessler vs Marie Bouzkova: Preview

McCartney Kessler will be entering this match following her two-set defeat to the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, in the R64 of the Indian Wells Masters. Although Kessler showcased a fair bit of resilience against the Belarusian in the first set, she eventually went down to Sabalenka by 6(4)-7,3-6 in that match.

Meanwhile, her opponent, Marie Bouzkova, has been pretty ordinary this season. Her best result was reaching the QF of the Brisbane International. At Indian Wells’ R128, she was defeated by the Dutch star Suzan Lamens, 6-3,3-6,3-6. 

Kessler vs Bouzkova: Head-to-Head

McCartney Kessler and Marie Bouzkova have crossed paths only once in their careers so far. Currently, Bouzkova leads the H2H record against Kessler by 1-0.

• 2024 Washington DC R32: Bouzkova, 6-4,4-6,6-2.

Prediction: Kessler to win this match in three sets

Although Marie Bouzkova (50) is currently leading the H2H record against the American, I’m still keeping McCartney Kessler (48) slightly ahead in this contest. Reasons? Well, first and foremost, Kessler has been in red-hot form this season and currently, she has a win-loss record of 15-7 in 2025. While on the other hand, Bouzkova has a record of just 5-4 in this season. Apart from that, I feel the home conditions and support from the home crowd will also work in favor of the American.

Now, if we shift our focus to their playing styles, Bouzkova is known for her versatile and aggressive baseline game, featuring a strong forehand and a solid backhand, combined with good court coverage and a knack for coming back from tough situations. However, her biggest concern is currently the high number of double fault counts. She has hit 24 aces but committed 44 doubles faults already in this season. Not only that, even in her previous match against Lamens, she committed 10 double faults. So, keeping things tidy will be the key to success for her in this epic battle. Will she succeed, though?

McCartney Kessler’s gritty, tactical, and resilient baseline game may cause her a few troubles in this match. Kessler is known for her quick thinking and high tennis IQ. She has a big serve and a strong two-handed backhand in her armory. Her nimble footwork is also something that makes her a real threat on Tour. So, considering all these aspects, I feel this match may take three sets to decide the ultimate winner, but I feel the American will have the last laugh this time.