Ashleigh Barty is about to play the Miami Open where she will challenge Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams. This will be Barty’s first tournament outside Australia since February 2020 and the 2nd one since November 2019. The Australian champion retained her world no.1 rank only because of the freezing of the points that was enforced because of the global pandemic.
The Miami Open
Besides the official rankings, Naomi Osaka, the world no.2, seems to be the best player in the world after conquering her last 2 slams (US Open and Australian Open) and she will most probably be the favorite at the upcoming Miami Open. Serena Willams also looked in fine form in Melbourne where Naomi stopped her in the semifinal and she will be in pole position for the title in Florida.
Performance in Miami
Serena has massed 8 titles in Miami and she won the first one 19 years ago back in 2002.
Naomi has not a great history in Miami where she reached both the 2nd and 3rd on 2 occasions. However, this tournament has a special memory for the Japanese no.1 as she defeated Serena Williams for the first time in her career in 2018.
Barty is actually the defending champion in Miami as she won the prestigious event in 2019 while the tournament was not staged in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Can Barty win Miami?
Of course, Ashleigh has all the opportunities to defend her title in Florida. Ashleigh looked perfect at the Australian Open until she lost an impossible match against Karolina Muhova in the quarters when she was in full command of the encounter (highlights) and she also won a warm-up event in Melbourne. However, is time for her to step up also outside the home soil.
Ashleigh Barty in 2021
Currently the world no.1, the Australian played her last match on the 24th of February when she lost to Danielle Collins 6-3 6-4 in the 2nd round in Adelaide (draw).
Until now, during this year Barty has an overall 8-2 win-loss record. Barty clinched 1 title in Melbourne.
Naomi Osaka in 2021
Currently ranked no.2, Osaka played her last match on the 20th of February when she beat Jennifer Brady 6-4 6-3 in the final of the Australian Open to win her 7th career title.
At present, during this year Osaka achieved a composed 10-0 win-loss record. The Japanese clinched 1 title at the Australian Open.
Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka played each other 4 times. The head to head is 2-2. The last time they locked horns, Naomi Osaka won 3-6 6-3 6-2 in the final in Beijing (China Open) in October 2019.
In the following video you can watch the highlights.
Serena Williams in 2021
Currently ranked no.7, Serena Williams played her last match on the 18th of February when she lost to Naomi Osaka 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal of the Australian Open (draw).
At the moment, during this season Serena Williams has a 8-1 win-loss record. Serena Williams’s most significant result of the year was getting to the semifinal in Melbourne and at the Australian Open.
Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams |
| Embed from Getty Images |
