Iga Swiatek started her 2024 Miami Open with a dominant win, but what happens when she faces a player who already bested her once this year?
The Pole has had success at the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami in the past, winning the event two years ago. The courts at the event have played a bit differently since then, as the court was sped up last year, but she still didn't have any problems in her first match this year.
Facing Camila Giorgi is never easy, but she handled it about as well as she could hope, winning the match 6-1, 6-1. Now it's about keeping that high level in her second match, and it's an interesting one.
She's facing a player that bested her already this year, and that's impressive because Swiatek only lost two matches so far. Linda Noskova is a pretty good player who found her best tennis this year.
Even so, it hasn't been that great against Swiatek overall. She did beat her at the Australian Open, which was a major surprise, but they also played recently at the Indian Wells Open, and Swiatek won 6-4 6-0.
This is going to be round three between them, and I expect the world no. 1 to have the upper hand as well. It mostly stems from the Polish player's ability to consistently dominate rallies.
Noskova has a strong baseline game and loves to attack, but it's pretty hard to sustain that against Swiatek. Sooner or later, you're going to run into some trouble against Swiatek's superb consistency.
| Iga Swiatek | Linda Noskova | |
| 2 | H2H | 1 |
| 1 | Rank | 31 |
| 22 | Age | 19 |
| 21-2 | 2024 W/L | 14-5 |
| 302-68 | Career W/L | 132-61 |
That's how Giorgi lost the match and that's how I think Swiatek will overcome Noskova as well. The Polish player seems to be a in a really good spot right now and I think she'll keep the run going.
Prediction: Iga Swiatek to win in two sets.