Predicted Winners in BOLD

ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

STADIUM start 11:00 am

WTA – [Q] M. Brengle (USA) vs [2] Ka. Pliskova (CZE) – This could be a good match, but I think the 2nd seed will advance.  With Serena Williams struggling with injuries and Angelique Kerber struggling in general, Pliskova has a great opportunity to make an assault on the top spot.  Her semifinal showing at Indian Wells was not a setback, but it was not a step forward either.

Not Before 5:00 pm

WTA – [Q] V. Lepchenko (USA) vs [12] C. Wozniacki (DEN) – Wozniacki’s new hitting partner worked with Serena Williams and Victroia Azarenka during periods of success.  For that reason, I think Wozniacki is likely to see an uptick in results.

Not Before 7:30 pm

WTA – [6] G. Muguruza (ESP) vs C. McHale (USA) – Muguruza showed some fire at Indian Wells.  Had she not done so, I’d likely have picked McHale for the upset.

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am

WTA – [5] A. Radwanska (POL) vs Q. Wang (CHN) – Radwanska could use some good results after a puzzling start to 2017.

COURT 1 start 11:00 am

WTA – [Q] V. Cepede Royg (PAR) vs [4] D. Cibulkova (SVK) 

WTA – [Q] J. Cepelova (SVK) vs [18] C. Vandeweghe (USA) – Will surface speed help or hurt CoCo in Miami.  I am divided in my assessment of this setting’s impact on her game.

COURT 2 start 11:00 am

WTA – L. Safarova (CZE) vs [23] D. Gavrilova (AUS) – I like Safarova to pull a mild upset.

WTA – [WC] B. Mattek-Sands (USA) vs [9] E. Svitolina (UKR) – This should be a fun match, but I don’t expect it to be too close either.

COURT 7 start 11:00 am

WTA – S. Errani (ITA) vs [30] S. Zhang (CHN) – Another mild upset

WTA – [13] E. Vesnina (RUS) vs [WC] A. Tomljanovic (CRO) – Momentum …

COURT 8 start 11:00 am

WTA – K. Bondarenko (UKR) vs [26] M. Lucic-Baroni (CRO) 

WTA – [17] A. Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) vs Y. Shvedova (KAZ) – The Russian had a very solid Indian Wells outing.

Not Before 5:00 pm

WTA – [19] A. Sevastova (LAT) vs S. Cirstea (ROU) – Another mild upset

COURT 9 start 11:00 am

WTA – [29] A. Konjuh (CRO) vs K. Flipkens (BEL) – I am bullish on Konjuh’s future.

WTA – [27] Y. Putintseva (KAZ) vs C. Witthoeft (GER)

WTA – [15] B. Strycova (CZE) vs J. Larsson (SWE)