Martina Navratilova backs Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina to win the Sunshine Double

Martina Navratilova backs Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina to claim the Sunshine Double.

Martina Navratilova backs Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina to win the Sunshine Double

Carlos Alcaraz, Elena Rybakina

Martina Navratilova has made a bold prediction on the outcome of the Miami Masters later this week. The American tennis legend backs Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina to complete the Sunshine Double in Miami, after they claimed the Indian Wells Masters a couple of weeks ago.

Carlos Alcaraz ended Daniil Medvedev’s winning streak in the Indian Wells finals, dispatching him in straight sets. Elena Rybakina claimed her 2023 Australian Open revenge, as she defeated Aryna Sabalenka to claim her first WTA 1000 title. Now, the Kazakh has already booked a place in the semifinals of the Miami Open. On the other hand, Carlos Alcaraz will face the ninth seed Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

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“You have to go with Alcaraz and Rybakina. I think they have a really good shot at winning the ‘Sunshine Double’. They both have a shot at it, they are the players to beat. Rybakina is in form and healthy,” said Navratilova.

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“Every match is a Wimbledon final to him,” Martina Navratilova on Carlos Alcaraz’s return from injury

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz

Martina Navratilova heaped praise on Carlos Alcaraz, who has instantly started operating on a high level after his comeback from injury. He missed the 2023 Australian Open, where he was surpassed by Novak Djokovic as the world number one. However, after his recent triumph at the Indian Wells Masters, he has reclaimed his world number one ranking.

Martina Navratilova believes that the Spaniard plays every match like the Wimbledon final. “Now healthy, I don’t know how he fixed that leg but he did and he’s looking very, very sharp. Every match is a Wimbledon final to him. He is fired up the same way for every single match and he’s in there. I just look forward to watching great matches,” said Alcaraz.

Elena Rybakina could become only the fifth woman to claim the Sunshine Double, if she were to go all the way in Miami this week. Iga Swiatek claimed the Sunshine Double last year, with Victoria Azarenka winning both events in 2016.

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