By Scoop Malinowski
Wildcard Andy Murray grinded out a hard fought win vs Federico Delbonis 76 61 but again looked ordinary and journeymanesque. Second round awaits world no. 2 Daniil Medvedev. Question: Why isn’t new coach Ivan Lendl with Murray in Miami?
Jack Sock is playing “J Sizzle” level tennis – he’s moving well and striking the ball with impunity – but again he fell short in the key moments and lost to Miomir Kecmanovic 76 64. Again, Sock was impressive and put himself in the winning position but found a way to lose in the end. Jim Courier said Sock is playing very well and it’s just a matter of time before he’s back into the ATP top 100 mix where he once roamed as a top ten player.
The talk of the day was Jenson Brooksby throwing his racquet which bounced off the court and subsequently then touched a ballman. There was no injury but tennis fans are outraged by Brooksby temper and failure to control it. Brooksby ended up beating Federico Coria in three sets after losing the first. It’s hard to understand why tennis fans and media get so upset when a colorful, talented, charismatic, emotional, driven, ambitious young player vents his anger after substandard play. Would they prefer another well- mannered Next Gen failure who can’t beat the ATP elites? Young John McEnroe’s temper indicated he was a perfectionist and when combined with his extraordinary talent, it vaulted the American to the top of the sport. Maybe Brooksby has a similar chemistry to McEnroe and his venting anger/frustration is a part of the process of becoming world no. 1. Just let him be, as long as he hurts no one. If people like Patrick McEnroe and Chris Clarey can’t handle Brooksby’s fierce burning desire to be the best, maybe they should analyze Pickleball. It worked for “Super Brat” McEnroe, maybe it’s going to work for Brooksby.
Miami Open flashback 2016: Gael Monfils when asked what type of player is going to be able to eventually beat Novak Djokovic in this tournament or in the future world no. 1 Novak Djokovic?
Monfils: “Well, a player, what type, I don’t know. Someone that has a good inspiration, good keys and can make him play different. We saw a couple players try to chase him for a little bit of sets, for games. But right now he’s on the top of the game. He’s the best on every shot. Every shot he has an answer and every question that we give him. I guess someone with great inspiration. I feel last year, who beat him (Wawrinka at French Open final 2015) was the only guy to be able to have great inspiration that day.”
Coco Gauff vs Qiang Wang rematch today. Wang beat Coco earlier this year.
Emma Raducanu loses again, from a set up vs Siniakova, she also served for the match but again crumbled at the end. The 19 year old currently ranked 13 in the world has a match record of 2-5 in 2022.
Sebastian Korda clobbered Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 61 61. The 38th ranked 21 year old has a record of 7-4 this year. “I made the quarterfinals last year and ever since I was a little kid I came to this tournament,” Korda said after the win. “Now to be able to be here and compete myself, I think little Sebi would be very happy.”
Alexander Zverev is going to work with coach Sergi Bruguera, who won the French Open twice in the 90s. It’s a trial coaching arrangement.
WTA no. 2 Iga Swiatek is in position to become world No. 1 next week with the now retired Barty to be removed from the rankings top position on Monday morning. Swiatek is 691 points ahead of no. 3 Maria Sakkari of Greece and could clinch world no. 1 tonight with a first round win vs Golubic. No. 5 seed Paula Badosa can also become no. 1…
If Badosa loses her opening match, then Swiatek secures No.1 after Miami.
If Swiatek loses her opening match, then Badosa would be required to win the title in order to rise to No.1.
Sakkari mathematically can’t obtain the No. 1 ranking this week. WTA No. 4 Barbora Krejcikova is out with an injury.
20th ranked and former world no. 3 Elina Svitolina lost yesterday in three sets to Heather Watson. Svitolina is now 5-8 on the year. The Ukrainian’s losses this year have come to Harriet Dart, Camila Osorio, Jil Teichmann, Tereza Martincova, Vika Azarenka, Anastasia Gasanova and Madison Keys.
The new Miami Open venue, being played at the NFL football stadium venue for the third time, has featured high quality tennis but there is a totally different feel than the Key Biscayne Crandon Park site which was a favorite destination of all tennis fans. Even the scenic car drive over the Rickenbacher Causeway was a joyful thrill. The feeling is if there is any possible way for the tournament organizers to return the event to Key Biscayne, it will be done. The question is if ticket sales and sponsor support is exceeding the business the tournament generated on Key Biscayne?
(Sebastian Korda acrylic painting by Sarasota, FL based artist Karin Billings.)
Scoop Malinowski · March 25, 2022 at 1:58 pm
Three years ago at the first Miami Open at the Dolphins Stadium venue I watched Iga lose in qualies to Sachia Vickery. Now she’s two sets away from no. 1 and millions in sponsor bonuses. Technifibre could sponsor two no. 1 players in the same month (Medvedev and Swiatek).
Sam · March 26, 2022 at 5:42 pm
Scoop, have you heard the rumor from Twitter that Nadal wasn’t actually jabbed either when he played in Melbourne, same as Djokovic, but had a different kind of visa not requiring government sponsorship? 🤔
If so, what do you think?
Scoop Malinowski · March 26, 2022 at 6:56 pm
Sam, yes of course and I suspect Rafa and Fed got fake jabbed (no jab).
Sam · March 27, 2022 at 2:56 am
Scoop, the rumor also said that Nadal actually had the same medical exemption as Djokovic too. 😳
If so . . . then Nadal’s out there dissing Djokovic for not “jabbing up,” while he’s doing exactly the same thing? That would make him “Hypocrite of the year.” 🥇 🤥
Even if the rumor about Nadal’s special exemption isn’t true, yes, I do think Nadal and Federer both got fake certificates at least, along with many other top players.
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2022 at 7:53 am
Sam, Let’s see if anyone can prove Rafa faked his jab with a TUE. But i suppose the tennis establishment will guard and prevent that info from every going public if it exists. Deminaur was allegedly caught faking his certificate, but the tennis establishment media didn’t care and didn’t pursue the story. You know if it was Djokovic linked to a fake certificate, the anti Novak hate media would still be hunting the story down to crucify Novak.
Sam · March 27, 2022 at 12:52 pm
Sam, Let’s see if anyone can prove Rafa faked his jab with a TUE.
Scoop, yes, that would be interesting. Anyway, it’s sounding like Nadal should be completely stripped of his already asterisked “title.” 🚫
Deminaur was allegedly caught faking his certificate
Another big hypocrite who was criticizing Djokovic. 🤮
You know if it was Djokovic linked to a fake certificate, the anti Novak hate media would still be hunting the story down to crucify Novak.
Exactly. As I said, I’m not sure if pro tennis even has the credibility now of pro wrestling. 🤼♀️
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2022 at 8:13 pm
Goint to Miami Open tomorrow, looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere of the venue and the press center.
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2022 at 8:16 pm
Sinner really impressed me today saving five match points vs Busta. Courier said he saved match point in the second set and then ran off 11 points in a row. Only a machine can do that. Then he saved more in the third. Plus he showed fire and emotion and the crowd was in a frenzy. I am now sold on Sinner and will not call him a mannequin ever again. Iga looks like a domination machine. Slapping winners all over the court and she’s quick as a cat. She may rule for a long time. Interesting that Technifibre could sponsor the two best players in the world next week, Iga and Medvedev. Incredible success by Technifibre, those racquets must be special weapons.
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2022 at 8:22 pm
If you read Tennis-prose.com in 2018 and 19 you would have known back then Iga was the special one. My second article on Iga from 2019. https://www.tennis-prose.com/articles/scoop/quiet-iga-swiatek-makes-big-statement-at-ao/ THe first was in 2018 https://www.tennis-prose.com/articles/scoop/prospect-alert-iga-swiatek/
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2022 at 8:28 pm
Azarenka statement after quitting vs 16 yr old Fruhvirtova…
Statement from Victoria Azarenka, who did not complete her match at the Miami Open today for stated personal reasons:
I shouldn’t have gone on the court today. The last few weeks have been extremely stressful in my personal life. Last match took so much out of me, but I wanted to play in front of a great audience as they helped me pull through my first match. I wanted to go out there and try but it was a mistake.
I hope to take a break and be able to come back.
I’m sorry to the fans for what happened as you were great to cheer for me. It was the only reason I decided to step on the court. I always look forward to the challenge and pressure of competition but today it was too much. I have to and will learn from this.
I would like to congratulate my opponent and wish her best of luck in this tournament and beginning of her professional career.
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2022 at 9:36 pm
Jerzy Janowicz returns! Lost in 1R qualies at Switzlerland Challenger as a WC, lost 67 in the third. First match in two years since a Davis Cup singles win vs S Korea. Former no. 14 and Wimbledon semfinalist is 31 now.
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2022 at 9:37 pm
Pablo Carreno Busta lost today with five match points vs Sinner. Last week in Indian Wells he also lost in the first round with match points vs Munar. Two losses in a row with match points 67 in the third. Can’t recall that ever happening before. Tennis can be very cruel.