Miami-Women steal the show
At present, Women’s Tennis is more appealing. Emerging super talents mingled with famed names are exhibiting the game at its best. With no guarantee, all are made to work for their dollars. The absolute dominance that was there some time ago with Serena Williams, is not there anymore, and I don’t expect it to see that for a good while. Tennis wise, there is no shortage in the exhibition of good Tennis from the Women in the top 50 of the ranking.
Draws are made up of 8 Sections and the Seeded players are placed in them for the best to reach the quarters with low level challenge. In this manner, the final Rounds will have better Tennis. In Miami, the challenge from emerging players in the top 50 of the ranking, proved to be very strong. Some little-known players and qualifiers into the draw, are so good that, some even took away the Seeds out of the draw.
Azerenka again
Victoria Azerenka, a name we all know as a former World No.1, got in with a ‘wild card’ entry and reserved her place in the semifinals. On the way, she beat Madison Keys, Agnieska Radwaska and Karolina Pliskova. The fighting Belorussian was at full steam in Miami.
In a surprise win, American Sloane Stephens beat Angelique Kerber to reach the semifinals. Stephens, an accomplished player, is unbeatable on her given day. She will be Azerenka’s opponent in the semis.
The dark horse of Indian-Wells, Naomi Osaka performed well again in the 1st Round, to beat Serena Williams but, Elina Svitolina, currently ranked 4, overpowered the gutty challenge of Osaka in a good match in the 2nd Round. Svitolina reached the quarters.
The oldest surviving player in Miami is evergreen Venus Williams. She will play against qualifier Daniella Collins. For Collins, who came through 2 Rounds of qualifying matches, Venus will be her 7th opponent. Collins, on her way, beat Monica Puig, the Rio Olympic Gold medallist, who beat 2nd Seed Wozniacki in the 2nd Round, with Collins, USA, had 3 in the quarterfinals in Miami.
Federer Shock
Men’s Tennis has been taking its toll in recent times. The last of the big names this year was Federer, until last week in Indian-Wells. There, he lost to Del Potro in a classic final. Last weekend he lost again, surprisingly, to Australian Thanasi Kokikinakis ranked low as 174, in the very first match of the ATP’s 2nd compulsory event in Miami. That is losing 2 matches in a row. Unfortunately, Federer’s story did not stop there.
Federer’s surprise announcement, that he will not play till early June, was the most unexpected from him, just as he did last year. The puzzle is too difficult to solve. In just two weeks, his approach changed from biggest comeback man of 2018, to that of a man doing the disappearance act. It is said, the only certainty in Tennis is that every player will lose someday, which makes winning a match a miracle. Federer will also stand to lose his No.1 status by not playing till June.
Twenty-one-year-old Kokkinakis, who beat Federer in Miami, has had a few training sessions with him. He always felt he could beat him and this time he did it. Kokkinakis has an excellent Junior record. He left the Junior events early to work himself into the Men’s Open circuit. Now, after this feat, he will be named one of the New-Gen players of 2018.
Absence of big names
Djokovic also lost in the 2nd Round, and Japan’s Nishikori went up to Round of 16 and lost to the man who, at present, is propping the popularity of Men’s Tennis, Del Potro. As for Nadal, Murray, Wawrinka and now Federer, will not be seen easily this year. This has to be termed as a collapse of the ATP’s high-profile players’ appearance that has been experienced in a long time or, ever.
Canadian Milos Raonic has surfaced again and is looking fresh. From what was seen, he has got over his injuries. Being a big made man, all quick movements of his, like change of direction, can cause stress to his body. When this happens repeatedly, the outcome is not predictable.
WADA at war
Federer news did not stop there. Due to complex systems that seem to have evolved in doping cover-up, WADA is testing players very frequently now. It has been revealed that Federer, who was tested for doping just once, in a decade earlier, has been tested 14 times in 2017. He has never tested positive. Also, all the big names too have been tested repeatedly last year.
The European Sand court season begins in April. It is considered the toughest to withstand physically. The destinations are Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid, and major European cities. Europe is the Tennis-engine that keeps Tennis in the high profile of the sports world. Poor exhibition of the game in Europe will certainly put Tennis in a bad rating globally. While the Women have enough to go by with new talent, the Men’s side, even with New-Gen players, is without similar resources. Del Potro and Co., now in Miami, will have to sustain the game through the lean Tennis time of Europe.
-George Paldano, Former int. player; Accredited Coach of German Federation; National coach Sri Lanka & Brunei, Davis-Cup, Federation Cup captain/coach– contact 94 77 544 8880 geodano2015@gmail.com –