Tennis Prose




Mar/19

21

Miami Open Press Box View

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By Scoop Malinowski

The press box here at Miami Open is in a corner on the level of luxury suites, adjacent to a LIV night club which is where the player press conferences were held yesterday.

As I look out the window, I can see 3/4 of the stadium court which is blocked the temporary bleacher behind the one baseline. To the left of that bleacher is an astro turf field where the players can train and warm up. Right now I see a player jumping, another doing side sprints, another footwork drills with cones. Player catching balls for reflex activation. Another is kicking a soccer ball.

It’s stunning how big this Hard Rock Stadium field is. It’s normally real grass but that has been ripped up for the tennis. The crowd is filing in for the noon starting match of Venus Williams vs Jakupovic of Slovenia.

We have TV screens on the wall to look at some of other courts and a scoreboard of all live scores. I can hear Ben Rothenberg, a popular tennis reporter talking to Tennis Magazine’s Nina Pantic a press section down.

A reporter to my left is talking in Italian. Ricky Dimon is on front of me, he said he hit this morning at his hotel and he’s high on Dominic Thiem. He’s also wearing a Cubs hat but said he may switch allegiances to the Braves as he lives in Atlanta now.

On the way up to the press, myself and colleague Richard Pagliaro chatted with Malka from Tennis Channel and she said Prakash Armitraj has been hired full time as a roving reporter and analyst. Jan-Michael Gambill is going to get more work as a commentator also.

On our way into the Southwest gate Thiem and Massu and their team rode by on a golf cart to the gate to where the locker rooms are.  Craig Boynton also walked by and Pauline Parmentier did too.

Venus just came out to the court with a bandage on her right knee and a pink warm up jacket. The crowd is pretty small, the higher sections are filled up more.

Looking at the scoreboard, Xiyi Wang, the 17 year old wildcard who crushed Monica Puig yesterday, lost the first set to Misaka Doi 62 but is up in the second 5-1. She is from China and already in the top 175, she’s also a top 5 ITF junior. She’s a lefty with power and a smooth serve. China may have the most top female prospects right now in the age group of 14-18.

Oh, my mistake and it’s a legit error. It’s XINYU Wang.

Xiyu Wang plays Kiki Bertens later today.

Since both are major teen prospects it’s just a matter of time before we see Xiyu Wang vs Xinyu Wang play each other in an all Chinese showdown. This week Xiyu and Xinyu are in separate halves of the women’s draw.

Matches to see later: Gulbis vs Kecmanovic, Osuigwe vs Osaka, Gauff vs McNally, Albot vs Ebden, Felix vs Ruud, Lopez vs Paire.

 

 

 

Attendance: The Miami Open recorded its third sellout of the tournament. More than 16,000 fans took in the action of the day session today.

Date

Session

2019 Attendance

Record Attendance

18-Mar

19-Mar

20-Mar

1

2

3

  **12,859

      11,291

* **16,409

  8,579 (2016)

10,966 (2016)

13,911 (2008)

 

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9 comments

  • catherine · March 21, 2019 at 2:57 pm

    Gauff wins – Naomi’s out ! Maybe Serena knew something we didn’t 🙂 I wonder what Sascha’s thinking ?

  • catherine · March 21, 2019 at 3:29 pm

    Ha ha ha – wrong Osaka ! But Gauff won.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2019 at 4:14 pm

    Gauff vs McNally was a fantastic match, 36 63 64. Big time tennis. McNally’s volleys early were the difference but Coco roared back for 50 in the second and then held on for 63. Mac lead 4-2 in third but Gauff roared back for 63. Coco mixed up the pace with some loopers and then waited for the ball to pulverize with her power. She came forward more too. Godsick, Groenveld, John Morris (Kyrgios agent) were there watching, so was Patrick M was there too with Robby Poole, not sure if Gauff’s dad invited them or they were self invited.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2019 at 4:19 pm

    High drama at Chardy vs Jarry on court 3. Chilean crowd resurrect Chi Chi CHi Le Le Le chants. Third set tiebreaker after Chardy blew a MP. Chardy finally wins and roars at the Chilean dominated bleacher. Then after the handshake and complaining to chair ump, Chardy blew kisses to the Chileans. Marcelo Rios was there for the first set which Jarry won 76. Chardy then prevailed 62 76. Massu and Grosjean also there. Very animated match crowd.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2019 at 4:33 pm

    I saw Gaston Gaudio walk by with a young woman. No hat, shades, just a white t shirt, jeans, no credential. Nobody recognized him.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    Sven Groenveld on the new venue: “It’s growing on me.”

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2019 at 4:46 pm

    Yafan Wang just beat Mladenovic 6363. So two Wangs left in ladies draw, Xinyu lost to Doi in three sets. Xiyu plays later vs Bertens.

  • Hartt · March 21, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    Bianca just fought back to win over Begu in 3 sets. That girl is such a great competitor!

    I was able to see Félix’s match vs Casper Ruud on TV. FAA got off to a terrible start, and Casper wasn’t much better. Casper won the first set, and then Félix played more like his normal self, and Casper could not match that level. So FAA did not have much trouble winning the last 2 sets. I was pleased to see FAA make some very good volleys in the match.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 22, 2019 at 11:17 am

    Andreescu is showing more special qualities, she just keeps on going, not satisfied with her big title, wants more. Could have easily tanked it or subconsciously tanked it but she dug deep and prevailed.

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