Miami Open - WTA 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

Q/Final matches Tuesday 30th March (Top Half)

Ash Barty (1) vs Aryna Sabalenka (8)

H2H Sabalenka 3-2....Last time they met was the 2019 Wuhan s/final,Sabalenka won 7-5 6-4.

Ash won a roller coaster match in 3 sets against Azarenka to make the q/final
Aryna had a convincing win defeating Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets.

Elina Svitolina (5) vs Anastasija Sevastova

H2H Elina 2-1,but 1-1 on hard courts.Last time they played each other,1st rd in Beijing in 2019,Elina won 67(4) 61 62.

Elina recovered from a 1 set deficit to defeat Petra Kvitova 26 75 75

Sevastova had a good straight sets win against Konjuh 61 75.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Ash will serve for the 1st set 5-4,as Sabalenka made 2 DF in a row,Ash has been putting pressure on the serve of Sabalenka and returning well....Sabalenka took out her frustrations with a couple of good racket smashes on court
Ash wins the 1st set 64.
Ash had a mini break in the t/break,made a couple of UFE and Sabalenka turned it around to her advantage and won the 2nd set 76(5)
Going to a decider.........both players are taking the Heat Rule for 10mins.
Ash wins the last 12 points to close out Sabalenka 64 67(5) 63......it looked like Sabalenka pulled a stomach muscle in the final set.
Pleasing aspect of Ash's game she did not get her serve broken.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I went to the gym and just finished watching highlights of the match between Svitolina vs Sevastova,Elina has been building her game well in Miami with a 63 62 win she will meet Ash in the s/final.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Q/Final matches Wednesday 31st March (Bottom half).
Starting at 1.00pm local time.

Maria Sakkari (23) vs Naomi Osaka (2)
H2H Osaka 3-1
Last time these two players met was the 1st round in Brisbane 2020,Osaka won 62 67(4) 63.

Osaka defeated Mertens 63 63 to qualify for the q/final
Sakkari defeated Pegula 64 26 76(6) to qualify for the q/final.

Not before 7pn local time.

Bianca Andreescu (8) vs Sara Sorribes Tormo.

First meeting between these players.

Andreescu defeated Muguruza in a 3 set match 36 63 62 to qualify for the q/final
Sorribes Tormo defeated Ons Jabeur in a roller coaster 3 set match 64 06 61 to qualify for the q/final.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Seeing that Ash Barty has made the s/finals in Miami,Osaka needs to win the title in Miami for a chance to return to the number 1 ranking.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I know it is early days,Sakkari has now a double break over Osaka,windy conditions on court,Osaka serve is way off,her ball toss is all over the place,she needs to get some energy in her legs for starters.Sakkari is really 'up for this match'.
Sakkari 4-0
Sakkari will now serve for the 1st set 5-0....yes that is not a typo error and she deserves that scoreline.
In just over 20 minutes Sakkari wins the 1st set 6-0....that must be some kind of record.Sakkari came out aggressive,her serve was good in these windy conditions,used her slice to perfection and deserved the 1st set and the scoreline.
I have no idea what is up with Osaka,she cannot get her game going,though Sakkari has not let her into the match so far.Osaka needs to wake up ASAP.

 

[Moxie]

Wow, Osaka really not feeling it today and Sakkari is on fire. Naomi finally on the board, and she really can't play worse. Hopefully she finds her game soon. I like both players, but I do want a good match.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Wow, Osaka really not feeling it today and Sakkari is on fire. Naomi finally on the board, and she really can't play worse. Hopefully she finds her game soon. I like both players, but I do want a good match.

Osaka first serve percentage in that 1st set was 35% O winners and 12 UFE.....even when she lost the 1st set to Vika in the USO she played better than she did in that 1st set against Sakkari it was just 'Woeful'

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sakkari has consolidated her break back in the 2nd set,4 games all,all the pressure back on Osaka to hold serve.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sakkari breaks the serve of Osaka and will serve for the match 5-4
I just don't think Osaka can serve in windy conditions,she needs to take some power of the 1st serve and maybe use some slice on her serve in these conditions? first and foremost she has to fix her ball toss which has been wayward all match.

 

[Moxie]

Wow...that is not how I expected this match to go, but great job by Maria! Love her.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

What a win from Sakkari defeating the No2 Osaka 6-0 64
A well deserved win,she came out strong and aggressive and believed in herself
Well done and your reward a place in the s/finals!....Sakkari will play the winner of Andreescu and Sorribes Tormo.
A match Osaka will like to forget and her 23 match winning streak comes to an end.
Ash Barty's ranking of No1 remains with the loss from Osaka,she needed to win the title.

 

[Moxie]

Pitched battle between Andreescu and Sorribes Tormo. Fascinating contrast in styles. If it comes down to fitness, Sorribes Tormo is the iron woman.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just tuning into the match Go Bibi!

 

[Moxie]

Bibi about to close it out, but this rollercoaster ride has had a few twists. We shall see.

 

[Moxie]

Oh, Bibi deserved that. Too cute. And now she's down 0-40 when serving for it. The Spaniard is not going down without a fight.

 

[Moxie]

Andreescu keeps S-T alive.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have to mute this match the Spainard is way to loud for me

 

[Moxie]

Gets it on a classy winner. Nice moment at net. Great match.

 

[Moxie]

I have to mute this match the Spainard is way to loud for me

You and those of the delicate ears that you can't stand noise-making. And you're a Nadal fan. I don't know what to do with you people. Try getting over it, I say.