Miami Open, Miami, FL, 2025 - WTA 1000

[Hoergren]

And she did it - in expert way - now inside top 100 at #75

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

And she did it - in expert way - now inside top 100 at #75
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Such poise and composure from the 19 yo wild card, taking down 3 GS champions so far in this tournament, Ostapenko, Keys and Swiatek in straight sets mind you

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

A great tweet from Rafa Nadal,
"We are extremely proud of you Alex.What an incredible tournament! Lets keep dreaming!

BTW Toni Nadal was in Alex's coaching box today

 

[El Dude]

I only follow the WTA casually, but totally forgot about Radacanu. What happened to her? Wasn't she the hot young thing a few years back? Obviously the WTA is far more prone to flukes and flash-in-the-pans than the ATP. That said, I found an article on the Athletic from late last year in which it talked about her being plagued with injuries the last few years, and that it is her goal to be "one of the best athletes in tennis."

And wtf is wrong with Swiatek? A few years back it looked like she was going to run away from the pack, but then it turned into a Big Three (though now Coco is struggling too).

It is an interesting musical chairs playing out. Iga has proven to be quite mortal, Coco doesn't seem able to find another octave, so Aryna seems to be the #1 by default, as she seemingly has the highest floor of the three. And now Andreeva is making a lot of noise.

Anyhow, again, speaking as a casual fan, it seems like we're in an era of "almost greats" - with no one able to take the throne of greatness that Serena left vacant. This goes back to Azarenka, who looked like she might wrestle it away from the still-reigning Serena but couldn't, and Serena had that second, late peak. Then we had Kerber for that one year, Barty, Osaka, more recently Swiatek...all almost-great players, but with one problem or the other keeping them from sustained dominance. Gauff showed promise but seems stuck in 2nd gear. Is Andreeva the One?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I only follow the WTA casually, but totally forgot about Radacanu. What happened to her? Wasn't she the hot young thing a few years back? Obviously the WTA is far more prone to flukes and flash-in-the-pans than the ATP. That said, I found an article on the Athletic from late last year in which it talked about her being plagued with injuries the last few years, and that it is her goal to be "one of the best athletes in tennis."

And wtf is wrong with Swiatek? A few years back it looked like she was going to run away from the pack, but then it turned into a Big Three (though now Coco is struggling too).

It is an interesting musical chairs playing out. Iga has proven to be quite mortal, Coco doesn't seem able to find another octave, so Aryna seems to be the #1 by default, as she seemingly has the highest floor of the three. And now Andreeva is making a lot of noise.

Anyhow, again, speaking as a casual fan, it seems like we're in an era of "almost greats" - with no one able to take the throne of greatness that Serena left vacant. This goes back to Azarenka, who looked like she might wrestle it away from the still-reigning Serena but couldn't, and Serena had that second, late peak. Then we had Kerber for that one year, Barty, Osaka, more recently Swiatek...all almost-great players, but with one problem or the other keeping them from sustained dominance. Gauff showed promise but seems stuck in 2nd gear. Is Andreeva the One?

Players have worked out Igs game I will respond to the rest of your post later as I am out at the moment

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Regarding Alex Eala: What she is doing is no fluke. She beat World #5 and Australian Open champion Madison Keys and 5-slam winner Iga Swiatek. This isn't going to be a one-time thing (like Emma Raducanu). Eala is a future women's tennis star.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Regarding Alex Eala: What she is doing is no fluke. She beat World #5 and Australian Open champion Madison Keys and 5-slam winner Iga Swiatek. This isn't going to be a one-time thing (like Emma Raducanu). Eala is a future women's tennis star.

Please I disagree you are always ready to name players that will be a future womens star? players like Noshova?
In my opinion Andreeva has a lot more upside to her game than Eala winning back to back wta1000s, as a 17 yo
Eala has holes in her game,like she hasnt got a big serve, a good returner can neutralize her serve with ease,for starters

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

El Dude,
I am home now,
Players have worked out how to play Iga, she hasnt won a tournament since RG last year, her game is struggling even with a new coach in Wim Fissette, she is frustrated and has resorted to bad behavior, she will be under more pressure now going into the clay season usually her best surface, ?

Coco Gauff is another player this is Floundering, started off well early this year and her game has gone downhill since then, her serve and Fhand again under the pump, I feel Gauff needs to hire a Bio Mechanic Serve Specialist, to help her serve, like Sabalenka did a few years ago, and still works with to this very day, also helped her fhand, Coco needs help in her fhand wing, too many UFE, also too many DFs, she has to get back to 'consistency' at present it is just not there.

Emma Raducanu is looking for her 8th full time coach kid you not, that says a lot dosent it, she got rid of her last coach will lasted 2 weeks,? saying he just wasnt the 'right fit', she has been handed wild cards to get into a lot of tournaments, because of her lower ranking and lets face it has done nothing since winning the USO, fair to say Miami she has won 3 consecutive matches, as she usually goes out in the first rounds of tournaments, lets see how she fares against Pegula in the QFs.

Andreeva has all the makings of a superior player winning back to back WTA1000 as a 17 yo old.Mirra turns 18 next month so she can be on the tour full time, lets see how she copes? at present I like what I see.

Eala WC yes she has defeated 3 GS champions in straight sets, lets not get over excited, she hasnt played the tour full time as a 19 yo, she can play freely as there is no pressure on her at all, she like being aggressive, on the front foot, hasnt got a big serve though uses her lefty serve to her advantage, I would like to see what she can do on the clay, being at Rafa Nadal's academy her game she translate to the clay, also her ranking is now 75, I am not calling her a future star I will just sit back and watch

 

[El Dude]

Thanks, Margaret - that's very helpful!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Thanks, Margaret - that's very helpful!

No worries !

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jess and Emma on court now for the last QF match at Miami
Jess won the serve and elected to recieve

 

[kskate2]

I can see Jess turning in one of her famous choke jobs and allowing the fraud to get to the SF.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I can see Jess turning in one of her famous choke jobs and allowing the fraud to get to the SF.

Ye of Little Faith

 

[kskate2]

Iga goes into the clay season with big points to defend, quite frankly she is struggling with her overall game, she hasnt won a tournament since RG last year, she will be under more pressure this year,

When she lost last week I mentioned how difficult it was going to be for her this season. She was lucky last year, this year they are coming for RG and the warmup titles to go w/ it. She will do well to defend 2000 of those 4000 points.

 

[kskate2]

Ye of Little Faith

it's never about faith w/ Maddy, Scone or Jess. I've just seen so much of it over the years. I am happy to be proven wrong, so we'll see.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Cat and Mouse point and Jess wins the point

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Theres that cross court fhand again for Jess working well so far and she gets the break

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jess has been flawless on serve so far in this match, consolidates and leads 4-2
Emma using slice it is working against her, not getting up enough

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Brain freeze Emma you should have come forward to the net?
Jess is outplaying you presently, could run away with this 1st set
Indeed, needed to hold your serve there Emma

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

For god sake Emma stop using the slice especially standing still at the baseline? not getting enough clearance