Wta 1000 Miami, complicated debut for Italy’s Cocciaretto, engaged with Japan’s Osaka. Eyes also on the Halep-Badosa challenge.
The third Wta 1000 has just gone into the archives. It was won by the world number one, Iga Swiatek, who demolished the Greek Sakkari in the final with a very clear 6-4 6-0. The Polish tennis player in this way further widened the gap separating her in the rankings from her main pursuer, Aryna Sabalenka.
Swiatek will, of course, also take the court in Miami, Florida, with the goal of making the Sunshine Double, and that is to win both of the two major North American tournaments, a feat she also managed to accomplish two seasons ago. On her way is one of the five Italian players drawn in the main draw, Camila Giorgi, whom she would face should the Marche player get the better of Magdalena Frech in the first round. Elisabetta Cocciaretto, fresh from her triumph in the Wta 125 in Charleston, did not fare so well either: for her there is former world number one Naomi Osaka, who recently returned to the circuit after maternity leave. The Japanese player has not yet reached the levels of a few years ago but has appeared to be on the rise: in Indian Wells she stopped in the third round against Belgium’s Mertens after successes over Errani and Samsonova. Cocciaretto is not favored but should win at least one set against the Japanese champion.
Burel’s threat for Wozniacki
On Day 1 it’s the turn of another circuit veteran, Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki. Having reached the quarterfinals in Indian Wells, she then surrendered to Swiatek by withdrawing in the second set due to a foot problem.
She may, therefore, not be at her best in her debut match with Frenchwoman Burel: Wozniacki favored but with the transalpine it will not be a walk in the park. Among the most interesting challenges is certainly the one between the “noble decadents” Simona Halep and Paula Badosa: the Spaniard withdrew from Indian Wells without even taking the court and it is not certain that she has resolved her physical problems in time; on the other side, however, there is a player returning to the court after more than a year’s stop for the well-known doping affair following the suspension of her disqualification. At least 20 games are also expected between American Stephens and German Kerber, while Fruhvirtova and Pliskova should prevail over Rogers and Vekic, respectively.
Wta 1000 Miami, the possible winners
Bouzkova to Bouzkova-Zhu.
Fruhvirtova to Rogers-Fruhvirtova
Pliskova to Vekic-Pliskova
Blinkova in Blinkova-Yuan
Wta 1000 Miami, matches by more than 20 games overall
Cocciaretto-Osaka
Burel-Wozniacki
Halep-Badosa
Stephens-Kerber
