Miami Open Week 2

 Still Standing...

 Miami Open, 
ATP/WTA Masters 1000
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens, Florida, USA
March 21 - April 3, 2022

Marriott Hotel, Miami Beach

A few intriguing story lines as Miami Open 2022 rolls into its second week.

We all sighed and moaned that Ashleigh Barty, the reigning WTA No. 1 Champion, retired from tennis. There is unanimous consent that this retirement came way too early from someone who has such an all round game, poise and an acute sense of the game. As usual she is doing things her way and it is great that she is retiring while being on top. (Serena and Venus are you listening?)

Is there collective breath holding that Nick Krygios will continue to play his exciting tennis and not argue with the Ump, throw his racquet, curse/curse a spectator, walk off the court? (Vika kind of took over that role - sorry Nicki) How grand if he won the whole thing? It's Ok to dream!!

Speaking of Vika holy jumpin jehosaphat so many of the women suffered damaged limbs or emotional stress you can make believe that it is November 2022 and not March 2022. In no particular order ladies who retired or gave a walkover are Simona Halep, Camilla Giorgi, Sofia Kenin, Garbine Muguruza, Katerina Siniakova, Clara Tauson, Marketa Vondrousova, Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Garcia, Maryna Zanevska, Anna Kalinskaya, Karolina Muchova and Dalma Galfi

The young ones have announced their arrival in a not so quiet way. On the men's side 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz continues to show no respect for his elders as he continues to simply roll on through. On the female side 20-year-old Iga Swiatek's performance is, as a friend described her, purposeful ruthlessness! Ouch! Iga reached No.1 after her first match win here in Miami although it will be official in the new rankings that follow this tournament.

Linda Fruhvirtova, the 16 year old (I feel old!) from the Czech Republic is causing folks to sit up and pay attention to her. Linda has a 14 year old younger sister, Brenda who is also a tennis player. Another Williams type story in the making? Linda and Brenda are some of the recipients of Patrick Mouratoglou's foundation. Yeah we don't like him, but the guy has been consistent in giving scholarships to youngsters and having them train at his Academy. Linda has been training at the Mouratoglou Academy in Southern France since 2017; she also trained at the Evert Tennis Academy in January 2021.

Ok so who is still standing?

WTA

New WTA World #1 - Iga Swiatek

Quarterfinal

Naomi Osaka   /   Danielle Collins (9)
Iga Swiatek (2)   /   Petra Kvitova (28)

Belinda Bencic   /   Daria Gavrilova
Paula Badosa (5)   /  Jessica Pegula (16)

Draws

OOP

ATP

South Beach at night

Round of 16

Casper Rudd (6)   /   Cam Norrie (10)

Nick Kyrgios   /   Jannik Sinner (9)

Thanasi Kokkinakis   /   Alexander Zverev (2)

Stephan Tsitsipas (3)   /   Carlos Alcaraz (14)

Francisco Cerundolo   /   Frances Tiafoe

Dannil Medvedev (1)   /    Jensen  Brooksby

Lloyd Harris   /   Hubert Hurkacz (8)

Taylor Fritz (11)   /    Miomir Kecmanovic

Draws

OOP

Miami Art scene - Spanish Traditions