Kerber and Venus to bring flair to Miami quarterfinal clash

At the Miami Open on Wednesday, world No. 1 Angelique Kerber will take on Venus Williams in a quarterfinal blockbuster of tennis talent and superstar personalities. Who has created the most captivating road to the final weekend, and who holds the edge?

Kerber was all smiles wearing a Miami Heat jersey and hitting a few tennis balls for the fans last week at American Airlines Arena.

Meanwhile, Williams broke out her own happy moves on the tennis court.

Slight advantage to Williams

“I think the pressure [of being No. 1] is not there anymore, I think it's more like motivation for going out there and playing again my tennis,” Kerber said on Media Day last Tuesday.

Williams' quote above, "No matter what I'm going to leave everything on the court: all my guts, blood, sweat, tears," captures everything about tennis warfare with existential flair. What’s left?

Strong advantage to Williams

While Kerber often scrambles for highlight groundstrokes, check out the 36-year-old Williams' sublime touch. Somewhere out there Martina Navratilova is clapping her hands.

Strong advantage to Venus

The German southpaw held a lackluster 9-6 record heading into Miami. But, she’s picked up more energy and added more aggression to her sweeping forehand with six straight sets won and each match easier than the last.

Greater props to the American's 10-4 record heading into Miami, including an Australian Open final run. She’s reeled off six straight sets with the latest an impressive display over Svetlana Kuznetsova. It’s the best win, but both players are cruising through the draw.

Even

Experience-wise, Williams is seven years Kerber's senior, and holds 49 WTA titles to Kerber's 10. But in their head-to-head record, the world No. 1 holds a 4-2 edge.

Their last meeting was last summer’s Wimbledon semifinal clash, which saw Kerber edge Williams in straight sets with flatter strokes and quicker legs.

In Miami, Williams will be nothing less than offensive, and if her serve and backhand are clicking, she could be the overpowering winner.

Look for a three-setter this time around. Williams is on home soil and will have the crowd support and familiarity with years of success in Crandon Park. That might be the difference, unless Kerber brings her “A” game, which has been surfacing all tournament long.

Slight advantage to Kerber