It makes for a blockbuster clash when two former Grand Slam champions go against each other, and it will be no different when Garbine Muguruza takes on Bianca Andreescu for a place in the Miami Open quarters on Tuesday at the Miami Open 2021.

It’s not often that a player ranked 13th in singles seemingly holds an edge over an opponent who is placed ninth.

Muguruza has played two finals since her Australian Open exit

Muguruza is going into this round-of-16 clash with a slight edge as she has played two Tour finals since making a fourth-round exit at this year’s Australian Open.

While she lost the Doha final to Czech Petra Kvitova, she won her next against another Czech star Barbora Krejcikova to lift her first Tour title this year in Dubai.

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Andreescu, on the other hand, is still feeling her way back into the game after a long time out with injuries.

Though she followed up her second-round ouster at the Australian Open with a semi-final appearance at the Phillip Island Trophy, she still has some ground to cover and will start as an underdog against a rampant Muguruza at the Miami Open 2021.

Bianca Andreescu holds a 1-0 head-to-head lead over Garbine Muguruza

Though not a favorite going into the round-of-16 clash, Andreescu will derive a load of confidence and belief from her head-to-head record with the Spaniard.

The pair have faced each other only once, in the quarter-finals of the 2019 BNP Paribas Open. Muguruza was routed 0-6, 1-6 by the Canadian in her breakthrough year.

However, if past record gives Andreescu an advantage, current form puts Muguruza slightly ahead, thus putting the contest in balance. Their passage to the round-of-16 has been similar, both coming off three-set victories over tricky opponents.

While the Spaniard fought back after losing the opening set against Anna Kalinskaya, Andreescu had to dig deep to fight past rising American Amanda Anisimova in an intense and knife-edged three-setter.

Hence, while the Canadian will be eyeing an encore of her 2019 win, the Spaniard would be driven by a desperate urge to even the score. So, strap in for a joyride as the two powerhouses of women’s tennis turn up the Miami heat with a sizzling contest on Tuesday.

Read More: “Felt Really Down”: Bianca Andreescu Reveals How She Came Out of Injury Shadow