Simona Halep’s comeback after a year off due to drug testing controversy, won a brilliant first set vs Paula Badosa but then cooled off 46 36. Not a bad result for the former world no. 1 after the long hiatus. Halep is still sponsored by Nike. Her last WTA match was in 2022.
Simona was happy in defeat: “I would rate it as a special day, honestly, considering the period I had. Playing so well, feeling so well on court, feeling so well outside of the court with so many people that are very nice to me and giving me the love, I would say that this day is going to stay very special for me.
Of course, I had many results in the past, big results. But here it’s something more than tennis, it’s something personal. I really love to see that people are appreciating me beside tennis and beside everything that happened.”
Venus Williams, with sister Serena in the crowd supporting her, could not overcome lefty Russian Diana Schnaider, falling 36 36. The 43 year old did not announce her retirement after the match. The match featured a visit from a black and white cat at duece 2-1 Venus in the second set. Unfortunately, no luck was delivered to Venus, now 8-34 in her last 42 matches. An iguana invaded the court at a Tommy Haas match at the old site in Crandon Park.
Aryna Sabalenka’s boyfriend, a Russian pro hockey player, died suddenly yesterday in Miami, he was in his early 40s. Sabalenka has decided to play the tournament despite the shocking loss but will not give any media interviews.
Hot prospect Jacub Mensik lost 2R qualies to Lukas Klein. Mensik had beaten Luca Nardi in 1R qualies. Klien beat Benoit Paire.
Ben Shelton and Grigor Dimitrov engaged in a spirited intense practice session.
Powerhouse Peyton Stearns beat Yafan Wang 62 63 to set up a showdown with Vika Azaranka.
Struggles continue for world no. 71 Yoshihito Nishioka, a 75 76 loser to Emilio Nava in 2R qualies. The 28 year old is 5-5 this year.
Coleman Wong qualified for main draw by beating Sumit Nagal and Hugo Gaston in three sets. The teenager trains at Nadal Academy. Wong is 19 and ranked 212 and has drawn Laszlo Djere in the main draw.
Coleman Wong · Miami Open · Peyton Stearns
catherine · March 20, 2024 at 8:08 am
Halep’s coach is apparently Carlos Martinez.
Aryna’s boyfriend’s death seems to have been suicide – her decision to play Miami under such circumstances is surely both dignified and courageous.
Scoop Malinowski · March 20, 2024 at 8:44 am
Maybe the Russian media can investigate what really happened in this case, don’t expect the US media to discover anything. Until anyone can provide a sufficient reason for a former successful pro athlete to do this, you have to suspect foul play.
Scoop Malinowski · March 20, 2024 at 10:45 am
“Long ago even before Jesus, Wisdom was hidden. The Owl was the Symbol for what can be seen, it’s not seen by everyone. (Occult means to hide something). Even words would hide the real truth. Jesus came and spoke the Truth out in the open (Brave). Through out the ages the Truth is Hidden. And still hidden. There is always a key to unlock the truth but you need to know what to look for.” -unknown
catherine · March 21, 2024 at 6:03 am
Sloan (‘whatever’) Stephens played well on her birthday to oust Kerber but TBH it didn’t seem a terribly difficult task. Angie is slower now, sticking to her old tactics, lost an edge in power. Should have retired after having her baby.
Sam · March 21, 2024 at 7:49 am
Scoop, what do you think about Halep’s sentence suddenly getting reduced by over three years?? 😮
I guess the price was right! 💰
Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2024 at 8:42 am
Catherine, after the match Stephens said she likes to play Kerber and that is not good for Kerber obviously, she has a 6-2 head to head record now vs Kerber, just a bad matchup for Kerber.
Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2024 at 8:51 am
Sam, also the curious part is the sudden reduction of sentence and the fact she seemed to know that deal was coming as she is suddenly ready to compete in big tournaments at a very high level. She won the first set vs Badosa 61. Is it possible a deal was made? Certainly. Especially after the famous 1998 quote of Jonan Bjorkman, “I have heard of cases of the ITF covering up positive tests.” which was published in Sports Illustrated.
Sam · March 25, 2024 at 9:28 pm
Sam, also the curious part is the sudden reduction of sentence and the fact she seemed to know that deal was coming as she is suddenly ready to compete in big tournaments at a very high level.
Yeah, what a coincidence, Scoop! 🙄 Suddenly is the operative word here. And she probably burst out singing the lyrics from Olivia Newton-John’s “Suddenly”:
SUDDENLY, the wheels are in motion,
And I . . . I’m ready to sail any ocean. 😏
Scoop Malinowski · March 26, 2024 at 9:31 am
Sam, Halep must have known a deal was being made for months, that is why she has been training for months for this return. We’ll never really know what happened with Bartoli tho )
Sam · March 29, 2024 at 11:40 pm
Scoop, yeah, it’s just too strange about Halep. And I can’t remember—did Bartoli get suspended?
Scoop Malinowski · March 30, 2024 at 8:17 am
Bartoli won Wimbledon and then during the beginning of summer hard courts she said in one interview how she was looking forward to playing summer in US and New Haven. Then suddenly in Cincinnati, she flew there from Paris and suddenly announced her retirement. One curious question was why did she even bother to fly to Cincy, why not just announce it in a release from Paris? I remember all these details because it didn’t make sense.
Sam · April 4, 2024 at 5:54 pm
Scoop, do you have any theory then about Bartoli?
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2024 at 7:27 pm
Bartoli’s case was odd. She did a conference call before summer hardcourts in US with media, saying how she was looking forward to playing New Haven and US Open. Then she flew to Cincy for Cincy Open and on either the Monday or Tuesday after losing to Halep 2R she suddenly announced her retirement. Why fly all the way from Paris to Cincy to play and then suddenly announce retirement in a press conference? I always remember this because another reporter added some details, it just did not make sense to quit right after she won Wimbledon at age 28 61 64 vs Lisicki, showing no injuries in the best two weeks of her life. Then at her next tournament she quits because she said her body just can’t do it anymore.
The volatile French player, ranked No. 7 in the world, lost to Simone Halep in the second round of the Cincinnati Open, then said, to the astonishment of all but those close to her: “I have pain everywhere after 45 minutes or an hour of play…. It’s just body wise. I just can’t do it anymore. Everyone will remember my Wimbledon title. No one will remember the last match I played here.”
Sam · April 8, 2024 at 10:08 pm
It does seem really odd, Scoop. Do you find her retirement suspicious at all? 🤨
Scoop Malinowski · April 9, 2024 at 7:38 am
“The truth is never told it has to be learned.”
Sam · April 12, 2024 at 11:36 pm
I guess that means “yes.” 😹
Scoop Malinowski · April 13, 2024 at 8:39 am
🙂