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This is as good a qualifying draw as you’re gonna get in pro tennis. I will arrive on the scene tomorrow afternoon to report by observations…
COURT 1 start 10:00 am
WTA – Qualifying – [3] N. Vikhlyantseva (RUS) vs [WC] E. Arango (COL)
WTA – Qualifying – S. Zhuk (RUS) vs [24] N. Gibbs (USA)
WTA – Qualifying – [WC] A. Kiick (USA) vs [22] E. Bouchard (CAN)
WTA – Qualifying – S. Lisicki (GER) vs [13] A. Petkovic (GER)
WTA – Qualifying – [12] S. Kenin (USA) vs [WC] A. Li (USA)
COURT 2 start 10:00 am
ATP – Qualifying – F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN) vs [24] M. McDonald (USA)
ATP – Qualifying – R. Opelka (USA) vs [21] P. Polansky (CAN)
ATP – Qualifying – [WC] P. Kypson (USA) vs [18] T. Smyczek (USA)
ATP – Qualifying – [WC] T. Kokkinakis (AUS) vs [16] T. Monteiro (BRA)
ATP – Qualifying – [5] G. Elias (POR) vs D. Kudla (USA)
COURT 7 start 10:00 am
WTA – Qualifying – [1] M. Niculescu (ROU) vs A. Lottner (GER)
WTA – Qualifying – S. Voegele (SUI) vs [16] K. Ahn (USA)
WTA – Qualifying – O. Jabeur (TUN) vs [14] A. Riske (USA)
WTA – Qualifying – [WC] T. Smitkova (CZE) vs [23] D. Collins (USA)
WTA – Qualifying – [11] T. Townsend (USA) vs [WC] K. Boulter (GBR)
COURT 8 start 10:00 am
ATP – Qualifying – M. Mmoh (USA) vs [22] R. Ramanathan (IND)
ATP – Qualifying – G. Sakharov (FRA) vs [13] E. Escobedo (USA)
ATP – Qualifying – [11] B. Fratangelo (USA) vs T. Paul (USA)
ATP – Qualifying – [8] T. Daniel (JPN) vs B. Klahn (USA)
ATP – Qualifying – C. Hemery (FRA) vs [15] Y. Hanfmann (GER)
COURT 9 start 10:00 am
WTA – Qualifying – O. Rogowska (AUS) vs [21] Y. Wickmayer (BEL)
WTA – Qualifying – [4] S. Errani (ITA) vs T. Martincova (CZE)
WTA – Qualifying – [7] O. Dodin (FRA) vs N. Broady (GBR)
WTA – Qualifying – [10] S. Vickery (USA) vs R. Vinci (ITA)
WTA – Qualifying – Y. Bonaventure (BEL) vs [20] M. Duque-Mariño (COL)
COURT 10 start 10:00 am
ATP – Qualifying – [2] M. Basic (BIH) vs D. Novikov (USA)
ATP – Qualifying – [12] R. Bemelmans (BEL) vs [WC] J. Souza (BRA)
ATP – Qualifying – A. Santillan (AUS) vs [20] C. Berlocq (ARG)
ATP – Qualifying – Alternate vs [14] S. Stakhovsky (UKR)
ATP – Qualifying – L. Broady (GBR) vs [17] H. Laaksonen (SUI)
COURT 6 start 10:00 am
ATP – Qualifying – [3] J. Millman (AUS) vs C. Ruud (NOR)
ATP – Qualifying – [WC] A. Geller (ARG) vs [23] A. de Minaur (AUS)
ATP – Qualifying – [10] C. Norrie (GBR) vs S. Kozlov (USA)
ATP – Qualifying – [9] Y. Bhambri (IND) vs R. Olivo (ARG)
ATP – Qualifying – [7] M. Berrettini (ITA) vs F. Peliwo (CAN)
COURT 3 start 10:00 am
WTA – Qualifying – [2] P. Hercog (SLO) vs [WC] X. Wang (CHN)
WTA – Qualifying – [6] Y. Duan (CHN) vs Y. Wang (CHN)
WTA – Qualifying – F. Abanda (CAN) vs [18] E. Rodina (RUS)
WTA – Qualifying – Ar. Rodionova (AUS) vs [15] V. Golubic (SUI)
WTA – Qualifying – C. Zhao (CAN) vs [17] S. Sorribes Tormo (ESP)
COURT 4 start 10:00 am
ATP – Qualifying – [1] R. Carballes Baena (ESP) vs D. King (BAR)
ATP – Qualifying – [4] R. Dutra Silva (BRA) vs K. King (USA)
ATP – Qualifying – [PR] S. Giraldo (COL) vs [19] [WC] E. Ymer (SWE)
ATP – Qualifying – [6] R. Berankis (LTU) vs N. Gombos (SVK)
COURT 5 start 10:00 am
WTA – Qualifying – B. Krejcikova (CZE) vs [19] J. Fett (CRO)
WTA – Qualifying – [5] P. Parmentier (FRA) vs R. Peterson (SWE)
WTA – Qualifying – [8] K. Nara (JPN) vs V. Lapko (BLR)
WTA – Qualifying – [9] J. Cepelova (SVK) vs V. Tomova (BUL)
Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2018 at 9:46 pm
Deminaur vs the ITF no. 1 junior Geller. McDonald vs Felix. Norris vs Kozlov. Kiick vs Bouchard. Mmoh vs Ramanathan. Millman vs Ruud. Gibbsy vs Zhuk. Wow. Those are some good matches. Klahn vs. Taro Daniel.
catherine · March 19, 2018 at 2:56 am
Is Miami considered more important than IW ? Seems a while ago IW was being talked up as the 5th Slam etc etc but it seemed lower key this year, not many comments and almost no coverage outside US.
Miami (Liptons then) was certainly big in my time and is still now. Is it the surface at IW? Location ?
I think we’ll see very different results in Miami.
catherine · March 19, 2018 at 3:22 am
Osaka v Serena 1st round Miami. Fixed 🙂
scoopmalinowski · March 19, 2018 at 7:14 am
Miami is a fantastic historic atmospheric event. There is no place on earth more appealing than Key Biscayne. Indian Wells gets slightly more favorable media coverage because of the newer venue upgrades. Interesting that Goffin skipped IW but wont skip Miami.
catherine · March 19, 2018 at 8:44 am
Indian Wells does seem to push the boat out for players, they get everything done for them and favourable mentions in return of course.
I sincerely believe you could hold a tournament at the South Pole and provided enough cushy comforts were dispensed the players would rate it higher than Wimbledon.
Doug Day · March 19, 2018 at 9:01 am
Who’s picking Osaka on Wednesday?
Scoop Malinowski · March 19, 2018 at 9:32 am
Catherine, I noticed how so many players call IW their favorite weeks of the year and named Tommy Haas as the best tourney director. IW and Haas win by a landslide. But Miami is very special in it’s own ways.
Scoop Malinowski · March 19, 2018 at 9:32 am
Osaka 64 64 vs Osaka Sr.
Duke Carnoustie · March 19, 2018 at 10:49 am
Catherine, you are correct. The players only care about the lounge, locker room, massages, ping-pong tables, basketball hoops, flatscreen TVs and hotel. Along with being far away from fans and media.
Their views on the ‘best tournament’ are not rooted in any reality and I never pay attention to them.
catherine · March 19, 2018 at 1:40 pm
Hartt – sorry to see Felix has failed to qualify for Miami. Any news on what happened ?
Hartt · March 19, 2018 at 3:39 pm
I was following the scores, but especially earlier in the match he was not serving well, with a first serve % of about 47% and too many DFs. In the end, it was close, with McDonald winning the TB in the decider 8-6. Someone who saw the match live did not think either guy played very well overall.
There is one bright spot in this loss. Now Felix has sufficient time to prepare for his clay Challenger tourney in Marbella, Spain, that begins March 26. Clay is his best surface, so the next few weeks will be important for him.
Hartt · March 19, 2018 at 4:06 pm
I see that Kudla won the Challenger in Drummondville, Quebec. (Shapo won it last year, having won the SF over Felix). This means that Kudla is now ranked No. 144.
Duke Carnoustie · March 19, 2018 at 8:14 pm
Martina Navratilova complaining that John McEnroe made more money than she did. Doesn’t she have enough money by now?
Duke Carnoustie · March 19, 2018 at 8:15 pm
Kudla takes the first set against Elias in Miami so no effects of jet lag, apparently
Duke Carnoustie · March 19, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Wow Opelka also loses. The stunner is Tim Smyzcek falling to Patrick Kypson of Texas A&M. Smyczek nearly beat Kohlschreiber a week ago and Kohli went on to beat Cilic and nearly beat the champ Del Potro.
Shows that players like Kypson are not too far from the top guys like DelPo. Texas A&M produces some studs like the great Jackson Withrow.
Dan Markowitz · March 19, 2018 at 8:54 pm
Mac Mac taking out Felix as Hartt said in 3rd set breaker in Miami Qualis. And not a big stunner, but shows you how far Kozlov is from even qualying for a Masters, he loses to Norrie 6-2, 2-0 and he retired. I’m sure Scoop will let us know what ails The Koz.
Duke Carnoustie · March 19, 2018 at 9:37 pm
Ahh Drummondville is on Quebec not B.C.. so jet lag not a factor for Kudla, who wins handily today.
I don’t get this site’s fascination with Kozlov. Just another junior who can’t cut it a the big time.
scoopmalinowski · March 19, 2018 at 10:23 pm
Kypson hurt Smee with droppers and his size power edges. Koz just quit. Hes loe on confidence. Norrie went to hit again after match. Evan King told himself “keep fighting keep fighting” from 3-3 to 5-5 in third set breaker but lost to Stakhovsky with Sobkin Donskoy and Youzhny supporting. Saw Shapo walking back to locker after practice. Then behind him was Laurendeau yelling “Shapo! Denis!” but not seeming to be heard. Distance? Cyril Salnier is working w Catharine Zhao. Su Wei Hsieh was working on court w brother till 8:30 two days after winning IW doubles. I did a biofile with Taro Daniel after Klahn match. Felix was tired Dub Mac is super fit. Felix had no first serves in in final set breaker. Good chat with usta coach and ex Virginia coach Brian Boland. Saw Serena arrive at 2:14 same time as me with coach Patrick in their blue Lincoln suv. Serena looks huge and has new hairdo.
catherine · March 20, 2018 at 3:12 am
Serena has a way to go to get back to her fighting weight. Osaka will beat her I think. Serena is a great player but even she can’t win standing still. Naomi should shrug off the building expectations. I’m amazed how many people think she’s American 🙂
I thought Bartoli was playing Miami ? Can’t see her in the draw. Maybe she’s having second thoughts.
Scoop – do a Biofile with Julia Georges ? Unless she loses of course – she’s playing Germans all the time. Carina Withoeft then.
Wonder if Boris will turn up in Miami, to check on Sascha’s faltering progress. B Rittner as well, to persuade German A team to turn out for Fed Cup v Czechs. Next gen of German girls is a bit thin. Anyone out there born in Germany ? Doesn’t matter where you live.
Title holders will not defend successfully this year. My prediction 🙂
Duke Carnoustie · March 20, 2018 at 10:36 am
Wow Scoop is everywhere. Amazing.
Do a biofile on Kypson. Curous to learn what he is all about.
Chazz · March 20, 2018 at 11:45 am
Escobedo got destroyed by Millman 1 & 2. Wow. De Minaur into the main draw.
catherine · March 20, 2018 at 2:10 pm
Bouchard out in qualifying.
Duke Carnoustie · March 20, 2018 at 5:01 pm
Darian King knocks out Mac Mac! Amazing.
Interesting matchup between Berankis and Stakhovsky.
Michael Mmoh into the main draw. Can he make a move in his fledgling career or is he the next Kozlov?
Not only did Bouchard lose but Abanda too so rough day for Canada.
Chazz · March 20, 2018 at 9:13 pm
Isner and Donald Young as a team might be one of the more surprising things in the doubles draw. The combinations are always changing but maybe they avoid partners if they are in the same part of the singles draw.
Scoop Malinowski · March 20, 2018 at 11:44 pm
Zhao lost for Canada too to Katie Boulter of UK. Zhao was about to win it late in second set then just collapsed in tiebreaker 7-1. That was all she wrote.
Scoop Malinowski · March 20, 2018 at 11:47 pm
Kypson won a set off of Norrie yet Kozlov won one game. Is Texas A&m Kypson ahead of Kozlov? Spotted Bob McAdoo, former NBA scoring champ, on the grounds.
Duke Carnoustie · March 21, 2018 at 12:40 am
Kypson is the better player, Scoop. I thought Bob McAdoo was the guy who coached the Giants and got fired, no?
scoopmalinowski · March 21, 2018 at 6:46 am
Duke thats Ben McAdoo. Must be brothers 🙂
scoopmalinowski · March 21, 2018 at 6:48 am
Right now Kypson is better but way lower ranked. Kozlov confidence tank is bone dry at the moment. Hes getting manhandled by everyone.
Duke Carnoustie · March 21, 2018 at 2:43 pm
Ahh right. Ben McAdoo. New Yorkers all seemed to hate him.