Miami Open 2022: Iga Swiatek vs Jessica Pegula preview, head-to-head & prediction

Match details

Fixture: (2) Iga Swiatek vs (16) Jessica Pegula

Date: 31 March 2022

Tournament: Miami Open

Round: Semifinal

Venue: Miami, Florida, USA

Category: WTA 1000

Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt

Prize money: $8,584,055

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel & ESPN | UK - Amazon Prime Video

Iga Swiatek vs Jessica Pegula preview

Iga Swaitek and Jessica Pegula came through contrasting matches on Wednesday to book a semifinal showdown at the 2022 Miami Open.

Swiatek registered her 15th consecutive win by taking out Petra Kvitova in her quarter-final encounter. The Pole did incredibly well to absorb the pace of the Czech's groundstrokes and cruise to a 6-3, 6-3 win.

Pegula has played only 11 games in her last two matches.

Pegula, meanwhile, advanced to the last four after Paula Badosa retired early in the first set of their quarter-final match. The American has played only 11 games in her last two matches, with Anhelina Kalinina and Badosa both retiring.

Pegula did, however, score impressive wins over the likes of Sloane Stephens and Elena Rybakina earlier in the tournament. She has done particularly well on serve, which has elevated the rest of her game.

Iga Swiatek vs Jessica Pegula head-to-head

Pegula leads Swiatek in their current head-to-head 1-0, having earned a tight three-set win over the Pole in Washington three years ago.

Iga Swiatek vs Jessica Pegula prediction

Having spent very little time on the court, Jessica Pegula will enter this contest as the fresher of the two players.

Swiatek has played a lot of tennis of late, but has kept finding ways to win. She showed incredible game-management skills in her contest against Kvitova, despite not being allowed to find much of a rhythm.

Pegula enjoys playing a defensive style of tennis, but against a player like Swiatek who can be hard to stop once she gets going, the American will need to find a way to be more proactive.

Swiatek can struggle at times when she's rushed into her groundstrokes and Pegula will need to find a way to consistently push the Pole onto the backfoot.

Pegula will be free of any pressure as she has nothing to lose against an opponent in red-hot form. But Swiatek has shown in recent weeks that she's a cut above the rest of the tour and should be able to extend her winning streak and advance to the final.

Prediction: Swiatek to win in two tight sets