Miami Open 2024: Simona Halep vs. Paula Badosa Preview, Prediction and Live stream

Simona Halep is set to return to the Miami Open after her successful appeal over a doping suspension.

Miami Open 2024: Simona Halep vs. Paula Badosa Preview, Prediction and Live stream

Simona Halep (L), Paula Badosa (R) (Source: IMAGO)

Simona Halep is finally set to return to the tennis court at the 2024 Miami Open after successfully appealing against her doping suspension recently. She will take on Paula Badosa in the first round of the tournament.

Both players will be surprise packages in the tournament. While fans have not seen Simona Halep in action for a long time, Paula Badosa has been in very on-and-off form since making her comeback in the Adelaide International. Thus, this is set to be an interesting encounter. 

Simona Halep vs Paula Badosa: Match Details

  • Tournament: Miami Open 2024
  • Match: Simona Halep vs. Paula Badosa
  • Round: First Round (Round of 128)
  • Date: March 19, 2024
  • Time: 4 PM (ET)
  • Venue: Miami Open Tennis Garden
  • Surface: Outdoors Hard
  • Prize Money: $23,250

Simona Halep vs. Paula Badosa: Preview

Simona Halep played her last match on August 29, 2022, at the US Open. She got eliminated from the tournament after a shocking loss to Ukraine’s Daria Snigur.

FS Video
Paula Badosa
Paula Badosa (via imago)

Shortly afterward, she was charged by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for the use of the substance ‘Roxadustat’ at the 2022 US Open. Due to this, she received a 4-year ban, which was reduced to 9 months after her successful appeal.

She will finally return to action after almost two years, and this will be a special moment for both the player and the Romanian fans alike. Halep has won two Grand Slam titles in her career so far: the 2018 French Open and the 2019 Wimbledon Championship. 

Paula Badosa’s form and health are both in great question. The Spaniard has been in and out of the tennis circuit due to her lower back injury. After returning to action at this year’s Adelaide International, the WTA beauty suffered a massive loss to Bernarda Pera in the first round.

She then suffered another major setback at the 2024 Australian Open followed by a second-round exit from Hua Hin and Doha.

Simona Halep vs. Paula Badosa: Prediction

Simona Halep and Paula Badosa have faced each other twice. The Romanian defeated the Spaniard on both occasions with little to no struggle. Both the matches took place in 2022. Halep defeated Badosa 6-3, 6-1 in the 2022 Madrid Open and 6-1, 6-2 in 2022 Wimbledon.

Simona Halep
Simona Halep (Via X)

Although the Romanian will be playing her first tournament in a long while, she will be the favorite in the match for two reasons.

Firstly, Paula Badosa has never defeated her before in her life. Secondly, the Spaniard has had horrible form lately, and it is highly unlikely that she will find her form back so soon at the Miami Open. 

Simona Halep vs. Paula Badosa: Live Stream Details

  • USA – Tennis Channel/TC Plus
  • Australia – beIN SPORTS
  • Italy – Sky Italia
  • Spain – Telefonica
  • France – Eurosport
  • Canada – TSN
  • Indian Subcontinent – Sony/MSM

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