ORDER OF PLAY

STADIUM (starts 1pm)

[13] Sloane STEPHENS (USA) vs [6] Jelena OSTAPENKO (LAT)

MATCH POINTS

Today's final will be the first meeting between Jelena Ostapenko and Sloane Stephens - the second consecutive Premier Mandatory final in which two players have faced off for the first time following Naomi Osaka's defeat of Daria Kasatkina in Indian Wells. The runs of 20-year-olds Osaka, Kasatkina and Ostapenko also mean that the 1997-born generation will have accounted for three of this March's Premier Mandatory finalists.

Stephens will be seeking to maintain a perfect 100% record in finals, having won each of her previous five (four in straight sets). Ostapenko's record in title rounds is just 2-3 - but the Latvian has won her past two, both over three sets.

The clash between the Roland Garros and US Open champions will be the second encounter between reigning Slam holders of 2018 following Stephens' defeat of Garbiñe Muguruza in the fourth round here. It will be the second biggest career final for each following their Slam: previously, Stephens owned just one other final above International level (victory in Charleston in 2016), while Ostapenko had been runner-up in one Premier (Charleston 2017) and one Premier 5 (Doha 2016).

Five years after first being one match away from the Top 10 in October 2013, Stephens has finally broken that milestone in style - and will debut at No.9 on Monday regardless of the final result. A win for Ostapenko will push her up to a new career high of No.4. This time last year, Stephens was ranked No.69 and Ostapenko five places higher at No.64.

This week's results have ended a run of poor form for both finalists. Since the US Open, Stephens' record was a mere 3-10, with just one Top 100 win in that period (World No.92 Pauline Parmentier in the first round of Acapulco). Coming into Miami, Ostapenko was just 4-7 in Tour matches this year, and the highest-ranked player she had beaten was World No.56 Magda Linette in Fed Cup play.

Ostapenko had never previously won a match at Crandon Park before this year. On her debut in 2016, the Latvian lost in the first round of qualifying to Sachia Vickery; and the following year, she lost in the first round of the main draw to Madison Brengle. Stephens' previous best run in Miami was her 2015 quarterfinal showing, which ended in defeat to Simona Halep.

Stephens is aiming to become the fifth American woman to win in Miami following Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Venus Williams and Serena Williams (the most recent home champion in 2015). Ostapenko would be the first Latvian winner in Miami, and of any Premier Mandatory tournament.