Naomi Osaka vs Yuliia Starodubtseva Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Osaka to launch Miami Open campaign with a win

After a promising start to the season, Osaka was struck down by an abdominal injury, meaning this is just the second tournament since her Australian Open retirement. Osaka declared her loss to Camila Osario in Indian Wells was 'worst match' she'd ever played in her life, so I think the former World No. 1 will be determined for a much cleaner performance here.

Osaka is a former finalist in Miami and should be better with more preparation/match practice under her belt. Starodubtseva meanwhile has been having a shocking season, going 1-8 at all levels before managing to qualify for the main draw here. The Ukrainian is ranked outside the top 100 despite having reached the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 China Open late last year, which illustrates just how much she's struggled to perform at most tour-level events lately. Backing Osaka to find her game and cover a -4.5 games line in victory.

This will be the first career meeting between the pair.

Osaka's comeback hasn't exactly been smooth sailing, with the four-time major champion still down at No. 61 in the rankings.

The Japanese star has shown glimpses of her best tennis over the last 12 months, but finding that consistency in her game has proven a struggle, along with niggling injuries.

It appeared as if Osaka was going to swiftly return towards the top of the game after a blistering start to the season in Auckland, but unfortunately she was struck down by an abdominal issue while leading Clara Tauson by a set in the final.

Osaka was then forced to retire in the third round of the Australian Open after defeating Caroline Garcia and Karolina Muchova earlier in the tournament. The 27-year-old returned to action in Indian Wells, where she was an unforced error machine in a 4-6 4-6 defeat to Camila Osario in the first round.

It looked as if Starodubtseva's stock was on the rise after her brilliant run from qualifying into the China Open quarter-finals last year, defeating the likes of Katerina Siniakova, Elina Avanyesan and Anna Kalinskaya along the way in straight sets.

However, Starodubtseva hit a wall after that tournament and has failed to win a tour-level match since October 2024.

Injuries have seemingly played a part, with the Ukrainian retiring twice already in 2025 - curiously against Jaqueline Cristian on both occasions.

The 25-year-old will be hoping to replicate that China Open run from last year in Miami, where she's again qualified for the main draw with wins over a pair of veterans in Varvara Lepchenko and Tatjana Maria.