Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka – Semi-Final – Preview & Prediction | 2022 Miami Open
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THE FACTS
When is Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka on and what time does it start? Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka will take place on Thursday 31st March, 2022 – not before TBC (UK)
Where is Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka taking place? Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, USA
What surface is Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka being played on? Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka
What channel is Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka on in the UK? Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka will be televised live on the Amazon Prime app on Smart TVs
Where can I stream Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka in the UK? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream Belinda Bencic vs Naomi Osaka live on Prime Video
THE LOWDOWN
BELINDA BENCIC
25-year-old Belinda Bencic conceded just three sets to an injury-hampered Daria Saville on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals without dropping a set. The world number 28 has been struggling for consistent form for some time but she can re-join the top 20 by reaching the final on Saturday. Bencic won two Gold Medals for Switzerland in Singles and Women’s Doubles at the Tokyo Olympic Games last summer bur her last ranking WTA title came at the Dubai Tennis Championships in 2019.
NAOMI OSAKA
Current world number 77 Naomi Osaka has shaved 20 places off of her live ranking already with a comprehensive straight-sets victory over Danielle Collins on Tuesday. The 24-year-old is yet to drop a set at the Miami Open, with 13 aces served against Collins the kind of form that should see her back inside the top 20 by the US Open. Osaka has a total of seven WTA titles to her name, four of them Grand Slam titles from the US Open in 2018 and 2020 and the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021.
THE PREDICTION
This should be a thrilling contest if Belinda Bencic continues the rich vein of form she has discovered at the Miami Open. Bencic has won each of the three tour-level meetings between the two, all coming at her peak in 2019, at two Masters events (Indian Wells, Madrid) and the US Open where she went on to lose to eventual champion Bianca Andreescu in the semi-finals. The evidence suggests that the Swiss is the favourite here and yet the level of tennis that Osaka has found at Miami is such that the four-time Grand Slam champion is hard to side against. Take Osaka to win at least a set as the likelier of two very capable winners, despite evidence to the contrary.
