Monday 18 March 2024

WTA - Miami

The 2024 WTA tour continues in the USA.

2024 Miami Open presented by Itau, a WTA 1000 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Miami, Florida, USA, 19-31 March 2024

2023 champion (not defending):
Petra Kvitova (15) who defeated Elena Rybakina (10) 7-6(14) 6-2

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:


- Mirra Andreeva replaced by Camila Giorgi 

- Amanda Anisimova replaced by Ashlyn Krueger 

- Belinda Bencic replaced by Yuan Yue

- Petra Kvitova replaced by Viktoriya Tomova 

- Karolina Muchova replaced by Jaqueline Cristian 

- Anastasija Sevastova replaced by lucky loser Bernarda Pera

- Mayar Sherif replaced by Diana Shnaider

- Marketa Vondrousova replaced by Yulia Putintseva 


Iga Swiatek, world number 1, is top seed.

The other 31 seeds are all in the top 36

All seeds have first round byes.

ATP - Miami

The 2024 ATP tour continues in the USA.

2024 Miami Open presented by Itau, an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Miami, Florida, USA, 19-31 March 2024

Defending champion:
Daniil Medvedev (4) who defeated Jannik Sinner (10) 7-5 6-3

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:


- Novak Djokovic replaced by Kwon Soon-woo

- Aslan Karatsev replaced by Luciano Darderi

- Mackenzie McDonald replaced by Marton Fucsovics 

- Milos Raonic replaced by Rinky Hijikata 

- Stan Wawrinka replaced by Daniel Elahi Galan 


Carlos Alcaraz, world number 2, is top seed.

The other 31 seeds are all in the top 33

All seeds have first round byes.

Alcaraz defends Indian Wells title

Final day in Indian Wells.

2024 BNP Paribas Openan ATP Masters 1000 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Indian Wells, California, USA, 6-17 March 2024

Defending champion:
Carlos Alcaraz (1) who defeated Daniil Medvedev (5) 6-3 6-2

Final:

Daniil Medvedev (4) (Russia) v Carlos Alcaraz (2) (Spain)

Alcaraz won three of the five previous matches between the players.
Four were contested last year, including Alcaraz winning the 2023 Indian Wells final.
The most recent match saw Alcaraz win in the round robin section of the 2023 ATP Finals.

Alcaraz was broken in his first service game and Medvedev led 2-0.
Medvedev saved three break points before holding for 3-0.

Alcaraz broke Medvedev in the fifth game amd it was back on serve.
He held serve in the following game for 3–3.

Medvedev saved a break point in the ninth game and held to lead 5-4.

Twice Alcaraz served to stay in the set, and each time he held.
A tie break was required.

Alcaraz won the tie break and the set 7-6(5).

Medvedev saved two break points in game two of set two.
He couldn’t save a third, and Alcaraz broke to lead 2-0.
Alcaraz consolidated the break and led 3-0.

Alcaraz broke again in the sixth game to lead 5-1.
He served out the match 7-6(5) 6-1 to successfully defend his title.

Thirteenth title, fifth at Masters 1000 level.

Swiatek wins 2nd Indian Wells title

Final day in Indian Wells.

2024 BNP Paribas Opena WTA 1000 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Indian Wells, California, USA, 6-17 March 2024

Defending champion:
Elena Rybakina (10) who defeated Aryna Sabalenka (2) 7-6(11) 6-4

Final:

Iga Swiatek (1) (Poland) v Maria Sakkari (9) (Greece)

Sakkari won three of the five previous matches between the players.
Swiatek won the two most recent, including the 2022 Indian Wells final.

Swiatek broke the Sakkari opening serve and led 2-0.
A love game consolidated the break. 3-0.

Sakkari was taken to deuce in the fourth game but survived and held for 1-3.
Then she broke back and games were on serve 2-3.

Sakkari held serve and levelled at 3-3.

Serving at 4-5:to stay in the set, Sakkari was broken, and Swiatek took the set 6-4.

Sakkari was broken to love in game two of set two, and Swiatek led 2-0.
Broken again in the fourth game and the lead now 4-0.

Sakkari served at 0-5 to stay in the match.
She was broken for the third time in the set and the match was over.

Iga Swiatek won her second Indian Wells title 6-4 6-0.
19 titles now, 10 at WTA 1000 level.

Sunday 17 March 2024

Medvedev wins Indian Wells 2nd semi

Semi final day in Indian Wells.

2024 BNP Paribas Openan ATP Masters 1000 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Indian Wells, California, USA, 6-17 March 2024

Defending champion:
Carlos Alcaraz (1) who defeated Daniil Medvedev (5) 6-3 6-2

Semi final 2:

Tommy Paul (17) v Daniil Medvedev (4)

Medvedev won both previous matches between the players, including the more recent:
Beijing first round, September 2023.

Paul broke Medvedev in gsme two of the match to lead 2-0.
He broke him again to lead 4-0.

Medvedev retrieved one of the breaks in the next game and trailed 1-4.
However, Paul broke for the third time and led 5-1.

Serving for the set, Paul saw four set points disappear.
He then saved a break point.
A fifth set point arrived and was converted.
The set belonged to Paul 6-1.

Medvedev broke for 2-0 in set two.
He broke again and led Paul 4-0.
Paul broke in game five.and held serve in the following game for 2-4.

In a five deuce game Medvedev finally held serve to lead 5-2.
Paul served to stay in the set and was successful.
Medvedev led 5-3 and served for the set.

Paul broke back and games were on serve, Medvedev ahead 5-4.
Paul served again to stay in the set.
He levelled at 5-5.

Serving at 5-6, for the third time to stay in the set, Paul saved two set points, then held forcing a tie break.
Medvedev won the tie break and the set 7-6(3).

In the opening game of the decider, Paul was cruising at 40-0.
However, he let the lead slip, and Medvedev ultimately broke for 1-0.

Medvedev consolidated to lead 2-0.
Paul saved a break point in game five, but not a second, and Medvedev extended his advantage to 4-1.
Medvedev saved two break points before holding serve for 5-1.

Paul served to stay in the match and held for 2-5.

Medvedev served for the match.
He saved two break points before converting his first match point and winning 1-6 7-6(3) 6-2.

Final will be between:

Daniil Medvedev (4) (Russia) v Carlos Alcaraz (2) (Spain)

Alcaraz wins Indian Wells 1st semi

Semi final day in Indian Wells.

2024 BNP Paribas Openan ATP Masters 1000 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Indian Wells, California, USA, 6-17 March 2024

Defending champion:
Carlos Alcaraz (1) who defeated Daniil Medvedev (5) 6-3 6-2

Semi final 1:

Jannik Sinner (3) v Carlos Alcaraz (2)

Sinner led 4-3 in previous matches between the players, including the most recent:
Beijing semi finals, September 2023.

Three games in and no break chances.
Sinner especially strong, his forehand dominant.
Rain delay.

Returning from the rain delay, Alcaraz was broken and Sinner led 3-1.
Sinner saved a break point before holding serve for 4-1.

Alcaraz dropped serve again to trail 1-5.
Sinner served out the set 6-1,

Alcaraz broke serve in game four of set two.
He saved a break point in game seven, and eventually held for 5-2.
Serving to stay in the set, Sinner held, forcing Alcaraz to serve for it.

Alcaraz saved a break point, then proceeded to serve out the set 6-3.

In the decider, Sinner was unable to find a break point on the Alcaraz serve.
Meanwhile Alcaraz broke Sinner in both the third and fifth games, leaving him ahead 4-1.

Carlos Alcaraz served out the match 1-6 6-3 6-2 to reach the final.
Irrespective of the results from here, Alcaraz will retain his ranking of #2.

Saturday 16 March 2024

Sakkari wins Indian Wells 2nd semi

Semi final day in Indian Wells.

2024 BNP Paribas Opena WTA 1000 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Indian Wells, California, USA, 6-17 March 2024

Defending champion:
Elena Rybakina (10) who defeated Aryna Sabalenka (2) 7-6(11) 6-4

Semi final 2:

CoCo Gauff (3) v Maria Sakkari (9)

Sakkari won four of the seven previous matches between the players.
Gauff won the two most recent:
Washington D.C. final August 2023
Beijing quarter final October 2023

Gauff served first and apart from a double fault held easily.
A,love game from Sakkari, highlighted by a backhand winner, and 1-1.

Down 0-30:through unforced errors, Gauff served her way out of trouble.
2-1.
Another easy hold for Sakkari, and another great backhand winner, 2-2.

An ace from Gauff began what would be a love game and she led 3-2.

Sakkari levelled at 3-3, then Gauff was first to be taken to deuce.
It was a brief stay before holding serve.
4-3 then a rain delay,

When returning from the rain, Sakkari once again levelled to be 4-4.

Serving at 4-4, Gauff found herself down 0-40 and facing the first break points of the match.
These three break points were saved, along with another, and Gauff failed to convert a game point.
Sakkari converted a fifth break point to lead 5-4.

Despite only landing one first serve, Sakkari managed to serve out the set 6-4,

Rain again with Gauff serving at 15-15 in set two.

Almost two hours later, Gauff resumed, and held for 1-0.
Sakkari held and then broke the Gauff serve to lead 2-1.

Sakkari saved two break points before consolidating at 3-1
4-2 after a love game beginning with a forehand winner and ending with a backhand winner.

Two unforced errors and two double faults from Gauff and she was broken for a second time in the set.
Sakkari led 5-2.

Serving for the match, Sakkari was broken and the lead reduced to 5-3.

Serving for the match for a second time at 5-4, Sakkari was down 15-40 and facing two break points.
These were saved, and then Gauff saved three match points.
Another break point arrived and Sakkari was unable to save this one.
Gauff had levelled at 5-5.

A love game on serve amazingly put Gauff ahead 6-5.
Serving now to stay in the set, on her third game point Sakkari held serve forcing a tie break.
Gauff won the tie break and the set 7-6(5).

The pair exchanged service breaks in the opening two games of the decider.
Sakkari saved two break points in the third game and converted her third game point to lead 2-1.

Sakkari broke Gauff in the fourth game and led 3-1.
She then saved a break point before holding for 4-1.

Gauff served at 1-4 and Sakkari with two fabulous backhands reached break point.
Gauff saved it and won the game.

Sakkari was taken to deuce twice in game seven but the serve was held ultimately with a stunning backhand.
5-2.

Serving to stay in the match, Gauff hit a backhand winner for 15-15.
Her next backhand was netted. 15-30.
A sensational forehand winner from Sakkari gave her two match points.
Gauff sent a forehand long and the match was over.

Maria Sakkari won 6-4 6-7(5) 6-2.

Second Indian Wells final for Sakkari, where she will meet the same opponent she had in the 2022 IW final.

Final will between:

Iga Swiatek (1) (Poland) v Maria Sakkari (9) (Greece)