BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, CA, 2025 - WTA 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

I just want to make a few comments regarding Iga Swiatek and her match yesterday against Mirra Andreeva as I didnt have enough time to comment on her dangerous play, she was lucky she wasnt 'defaulted' if the ball she was given by one of the ball balls she slammed it back and it nearly missed the ball boy and her team in her box? this was down right ugly from Iga, and her bad temper, she was under considerable pressure in this match, still she has to learn to control her temper, she also went and stopped play, and went to the umpire, she got boo's from the crowd, complaining about something? though I could not hear properly what was her beef?
Iga hasnt won a title since last year, I feel players have worked out how to play her. IW has always been a happy hunting ground for Iga and the surface suits her game.I dont think she can do much in Miami, as the court plays fast and it is low bouncing,.
Lets see how she fares in the clay season, if she cannot win, say at RG this year, to me she is in trouble.

 

[don_fabio]

I just want to make a few comments regarding Iga Swiatek and her match yesterday against Mirra Andreeva as I didnt have enough time to comment on her dangerous play, she was lucky she wasnt 'defaulted' if the ball she was given by one of the ball balls she slammed it back and it nearly missed the ball boy and her team in her box? this was down right ugly from Iga, and her bad temper, she was under considerable pressure in this match, still she has to learn to control her temper, she also went and stopped play, and went to the umpire, she got boo's from the crowd, complaining about something? though I could not hear properly what was her beef?

That was a bad behaviour, lots of frustration from her side.

Iga hasnt won a title since last year, I feel players have worked out how to play her. IW has always been a happy hunting ground for Iga and the surface suits her game.I dont think she can do much in Miami, as the court plays fast and it is low bouncing,.
Lets see how she fares in the clay season, if she cannot win, say at RG this year, to me she is in trouble.

Agree, she is struggling.

 

[don_fabio]

Saba took that AO loss personal, maybe a tiny bit too personal judging from the match result.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

That was a bad behaviour, lots of frustration from her side.

Agree, she is struggling.

Agree Iga is struggling it will be an interesting Clay season ahead

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Saba took that AO loss personal, maybe a tiny bit too personal judging from the match result.

LOL! actually that was just a Clincial display of tennis from Saba, about time too, she too has been struggling in area's of her game, her serve for starters
You know Madison routed Bencic off the court in her previous match, sad to say she was a shadow of her former self, Saba never let her into the match.

 

[AnonymousFan]

 

[Kieran]

I just want to make a few comments regarding Iga Swiatek and her match yesterday against Mirra Andreeva as I didnt have enough time to comment on her dangerous play, she was lucky she wasnt 'defaulted' if the ball she was given by one of the ball balls she slammed it back and it nearly missed the ball boy and her team in her box? this was down right ugly from Iga, and her bad temper, she was under considerable pressure in this match, still she has to learn to control her temper, she also went and stopped play, and went to the umpire, she got boo's from the crowd, complaining about something? though I could not hear properly what was her beef?
Iga hasnt won a title since last year, I feel players have worked out how to play her. IW has always been a happy hunting ground for Iga and the surface suits her game.I dont think she can do much in Miami, as the court plays fast and it is low bouncing,.
Lets see how she fares in the clay season, if she cannot win, say at RG this year, to me she is in trouble.

She’s not like she was when she was doting on Rafa, that’s for sure. He was a good influence. Now she’s looking like a player spiralling out of control. She’s not making an impact anywhere outside Paris, and with behaviour like that, it seems she’s losing it badly. The drug charge hasn’t helped her either. I’m sure she’s upset about that too.

Though she was lucky not to be defaulted for slamming the ball towards the ball boy, there ought to have been a post match penalty. It was ugly and upsetting for the kid, I’m sure…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

She’s not like she was when she was doting on Rafa, that’s for sure. He was a good influence. Now she’s looking like a player spiralling out of control. She’s not making an impact anywhere outside Paris, and with behaviour like that, it seems she’s losing it badly. The drug charge hasn’t helped her either. I’m sure she’s upset about that too.

Though she was lucky not to be defaulted for slamming the ball towards the ball boy, there ought to have been a post match penalty. It was ugly and upsetting for the kid, I’m sure…

Actually I was waiting for the umpire to give her a penalty for 'unsportsmanlike conduct' after she slammed the ball?
I feel she is struggling mentally in a lot of aspects of her game, fact being players have worked out to play her now, and she dosent like it, well it is up to her now to make the adjustments to her game, her behavior leads a lot to be desired, quite frankly,

 

[kskate2]

I just want to make a few comments regarding Iga Swiatek and her match yesterday against Mirra Andreeva as I didnt have enough time to comment on her dangerous play, she was lucky she wasnt 'defaulted' if the ball she was given by one of the ball balls she slammed it back and it nearly missed the ball boy and her team in her box? this was down right ugly from Iga, and her bad temper, she was under considerable pressure in this match, still she has to learn to control her temper, she also went and stopped play, and went to the umpire, she got boo's from the crowd, complaining about something? though I could not hear properly what was her beef?
Iga hasnt won a title since last year, I feel players have worked out how to play her. IW has always been a happy hunting ground for Iga and the surface suits her game.I dont think she can do much in Miami, as the court plays fast and it is low bouncing,.
Lets see how she fares in the clay season, if she cannot win, say at RG this year, to me she is in trouble.

She was in trouble last year on the clay and got bailed out. Remember Naomi had her down and she bottled it when she was serving for it. Saba had the lead in the warmup event and she bottled it. Her dominance on the clay was already fragile since last year. They are definitely coming for her this year. She will be lucky to win any of the warm-up events let alone RG this year. And as to her behavior, it was horrible and even though Charlie and Maddy were outplayed, they didn't result to that kind of behavior. I'm in agreement w/ so many of the players, that there's favortism and preferential treatment amongst the top players. She didn't get a warning, a post match fine or anything.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

She was in trouble last year on the clay and got bailed out. Remember Naomi had her down and she bottled it when she was serving for it. Saba had the lead in the warmup event and she bottled it. Her dominance on the clay was already fragile since last year. They are definitely coming for her this year. She will be lucky to win any of the warm-up events let alone RG this year. And as to her behavior, it was horrible and even though Charlie and Maddy were outplayed, they didn't result to that kind of behavior. I'm in agreement w/ so many of the players, that there's favortism and preferential treatment amongst the top players. She didn't get a warning, a post match fine or anything.

I was waiting for at least a warning from the umpire regarding her bad temper and slamming the ball towards the ball ball, she should have least got a penalty for 'unsportsmanlike conduct" she got booed from the crowd when she decided to stop play and go and have a conversation with the umpire?
Bottom line is she cant handle losing a match, so she resorts to bad behavior, agree some of the umpires let the top players get away with murder

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Ladies Singles Final,
Sunday 16th March at 11.00am

Sabalenka (1) vs Andreeva (9) Sabalenka leads their H2H 4-1 their most recent meeting was AO 2025 Sabalenka won 61 62.

Sabalenka is the only player to not lose a set enroute to the final, Sabalenka did make the final 2 years ago, though was defeated by Elena Rybakina in the final.
Sabalenka made a 'big statement' in her SF match against Madison Keys, a rematch of this years AO final, with her best performance of the year, defeating Keys 60 61.Has she peaked already in this tournament? with such a performance, though I think Sabalenka will be fully aware of the capabilities of her younger opponent Mirra Andreeva who recently won the Dubai tournament.
Sabalenka has defeated Andreeva on the HC with ease, though Andreeva has improved since the last time they met, her serve to me, has improved and considering she is 17, will turn 18 in April, there is still time for improvement on her serve.

Andreeva is riding on a high of winning 11 consecutive matches and she dethroned the defending champion in Iga Swaitek, in 3 sets, in the SF, Mirra backs herself when down and has confidence in her ability, she will be able to play freely as she will not have the 'pressure' of being the No 1 player, who is expected to win and does have a H2H lead over her. Andreeva must have a good serving day for starters, giving her free easy points.
Andreeva is the youngest IW finalist since Cljisters in 2001.

Both players like to play aggressive and be on the front foot, will the No 1 player prevail or will the 17 year old do her magic again and win her second WTA 1000 title!

Should be a fascinating final between these 2 players!

 

[kskate2]

It's fascinating indeed. The 2 folks I said could derail Iga here are playing each other in the final. Saba has a point to prove after AO and she could increase her stronghold on #1 ranking, I think she finds a way to eek this one out. The teen queen might have a teensy weensy letdown and that will be enough for Saba to squeak through.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Players on court
Mirra won the toss and has elected to receive.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Saba with some sloppy errors already, just her 2nd service game.
Jesus a Djoko smash at the net from Saba
Mirra with 2 BPs
Great touch at the net from Saba, volley wasnt easy to pick up
Saba survives in a long service game.

 

[El Dude]

Well, that turned quickly. Andreeva on the verge of breaking Saba to go up 2-1, now down 4-1. This could end pretty quickly.

Regardless, Andreeva is legit - and the WTA should soon (if not already) be enjoying a Big Four...of course, that is, if Iga doesn't completely implode. But Andreeva is clearly more talented than the rest of the pack, and she's still got room to grow.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Saba has woken up and made the adjustment on the Mirra serve
Saba now has 3 BPs
Saba breaks Mirra to love
Saba consolidates the break and leads 4-1

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

One shot that Saba has improved over the years is her fhand, played a great fh down the line passing shot
Great hands at the net, picking up half volleys from Saba, people might forget she is a WTA doubles champion, with 2 major titles at the USO and AO she knows her way around the net

 

[kskate2]

Well, that turned quickly. Andreeva on the verge of breaking Saba to go up 2-1, now down 4-1. This could end pretty quickly.

Regardless, Andreeva is legit - and the WTA should soon (if not already) be enjoying a Big Four...of course, that is, if Iga doesn't completely implode. But Andreeva is clearly more talented than the rest of the pack, and she's still got room to grow.

Yep, now she's behaving like a typical teenager. She can get negative in a hurry. Conchita has a permanent job in either helping her grow out of it or use it for her benefit

 

[kskate2]

One shot that Saba has improved over the years is her fhand, played a great fh down the line passing shot
Great hands at the net, picking up half volleys from Saba, people might forget she is a WTA doubles champion, with 2 major titles at the USO and AO she knows her way around the net

She's improved a few shots over the years. Her dropper is good, her slice FH is great when executed properly. Remember when she first came on the scene. She was heavy and a ball basher. She's in better shape now, added more margin to her groundies and incorporated some touch and feel like you mentioned earlier. It's what has alllowed her to top the rankings.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

She's improved a few shots over the years. Her dropper is good, her slice FH is great when executed properly. Remember when she first came on the scene. She was heavy and a ball basher. She's in better shape now, added more margin to her groundies and incorporated some touch and feel like you mentioned earlier. It's what has alllowed her to top the rankings.

Her hard work has paid off, she deserves her No 1 ranking, she really has the 'complete game"