Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA 1000 Miami Open match.
Elina Svitolina is enjoying a strong run in Miami, having dispatched top-50 opponents Belinda Bencic and Karolína Muchová in straight sets. But the challenge now intensifies as she faces world No. 2 Iga Świątek in the Round of 16 — a former Miami champion from 2022 and one of the most consistent players on tour this season.
Elina Svitolina
The Ukrainian has had a solid 2025 campaign so far, with 11 wins in 16 matches, including impressive victories over Jessica Pegula (No. 4) and Jasmine Paolini (No. 7). Even in her defeats, Svitolina has remained highly competitive, never losing by more than four games. Her first serve has been a key weapon during the American swing — winning around 70% of points behind it — and her court coverage and resilience remain among the best on tour.
Iga Świątek
Świątek continues to shine overall in 2025, especially on return, where she wins a staggering 48.4% of games. However, she’s looked slightly vulnerable in Miami, needing to work through tricky matches against Caroline Garcia (6:2, 7:5) and Elise Mertens (7:6, 6:1). Both matches went over 19.5 total games, a sign that Świątek isn’t winning quite as convincingly as she did in previous seasons. Notably, her upcoming opponent, Svitolina, is ranked No. 22, higher than either of Świątek’s previous challengers here.
Elina Svitolina vs Iga Świątek Prediction
The head-to-head favours Iga (2-1), but two of their three meetings have seen the total games exceed 20, showing that Svitolina knows how to stay in the fight, even if she doesn’t always get the win. Svitolina has the form, fitness, and tactical discipline to push Świątek, who hasn’t been at her most dominant in Miami.
