Lulu Sun vs Taylor Townsend Preview & Prediction | 2026 Miami Open | First Round

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Taylor Townsend faces Lulu Sun in the first-round of the Miami Open.

Ranking points: WTA 1000

Start date/time:

Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA

Surface: Outdoor hard

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / USA – Tennis Channel

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Tennis Channel

Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Lulu Sun vs Taylor Townsend ticket information

Lulu Sun vs Taylor Townsend prediction

Lulu Sun qualified for the event after wins over Maria Timofeeva and Donna Vekic in straight sets. The New Zealander, who reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 2024, competed in Austin last week but lost in the second-round to former world number two Paula Badosa. Sun has suffered a number of first-round exits in other events and has lost six of her 10 matches in 2026.

Taylor Townsend is her opponent in round one. The American has enjoyed a fine run of results in recent weeks. The American competed in her first singles event since Melbourne at the ATX Open, making it all the way to the final after four straight wins. She would lose to Peyton Stearns in the final. Townsend then qualified for Indian Wells and thrashed Marie Bouzkova in her first-round match. She would lose to Marta Kostyuk in round two, but Townsend has seven wins from her last nine matches overall.

Townsend has been performing well recently and should be regarded as a firm favourite to win, possibly in straight sets.

Lulu Sun vs Taylor Townsend tip: Taylor Townsend to win