Miami Open
10th on the trot as Williams wastes another wild card
VenUs Williams lost her 10th match in a row as the former great lost as a wild card at the Miami Masters first round.
The 45-year-old ranked 517 was given a free entry by Miami organisers. But the gift did little as the seven-time Grand Slam champion was defeated 7-5, 7-5 by Brit Francesca Jones, the world No. 93
Williams also played and lost as a wild card at Indian Wells and won her last match in July and lifted her seventh trophy at a Grand Slam in 2008 – 18 years ago.
The veteran has played Miami 22 times, winning it on three occasions. Jones, was born in 2000, a year in which the Williams career was already fading.
“She’s amazing, it’s phenomenal. People might focus on the fact that she’s lost consecutive matches, but I think we have to recognize that [recently] she’s played some tough three-setters,” Jones said.
“She doesn’t lose the serve [often], and it’s the vital part of the game. Of course, her movement isn’t what it used to be.
“I think there’s no reason she can’t win matches, and I fully believe that she’s at a level where she can compete.
“I just think she just needs to keep going. She’s building.”
Jones recalled watching Wiliams and sister Serena at WImbledon as a child sitting in the stands with her father.
The winner earned her first match win since January and the 17th Tour-level victory of her career. She is the first since 2009 when this record began to record a first 1000-level match win over a former world No 1.
Since the format’s introduction in 2009, Jones is the first player to record a first WTA 1000 match-win over a former World No. 1
Magda Linette delivered a short, sharp shock to fellow Pole Iga Swiatek, sending the former No. 1 out in an opening match 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 in a first opening-match loss for the world No. 3 in half a decade.
Swiatek let her grip on the second-round match slip with a double-fault to gie a pair of set points to Linette, who took full advantage.
The 34-year-old reached 4-2 in the final set and sealed the win on her fifth match point.
Linette will next line up against Filipina sensation Alexandre Eala, who won the longest match so far in her young career, taking nearly three and a half hours to beat Laura Siegemund, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-3.
Jannik Sinner will take back the No. 1 ranking on Monday after winning his fourth consecutive Masters 1000 title with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 defeat of rival Carlos Alcaraz.
The Italian’s win in two and a quarter hours as gusting winds began to play up at the seaside Monte Carlo Country Club has won the last four events in the elite series: Paris Indoors, Indian Wells, Miami and now in the principality for the first time.
The 24-year-old who began his sporting life as a child ski racer before picking up a racquet extended his current Masters win streak to 22 matches.
He joins Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the only players to win four consecutive Masters tournaments.
“I don’t know where to start,” Sinner said after victory, with Alcaraz sending a service return long on his opponent’s first match point.
“We came here hoping to play as many matches as possible and get some feedback (on his clay game).
“This is another amazing result,” he said after losing last May’s Roland Garros final in Paris to Alcaraz.
“To get back to No. 1 means a lot to me. But the ranking is secondary. I’m happy to win a big trophy on this surface.”
Sinner won the 74-minute opening set but trailed 3-1 in the second before breaking back for 3-all and repeating for 5-3 moments later.
“I always felt close on the return game,” Sinner said. “I think new balls helped me at 1-3. I tried to stay strong mentally and kept pushing.”
Alcaraz, who stayed atop the rankings for 66 weeks, will drop to second but still leads the head-to-head 10-7.
Sinner claimed the 27th title of his career and third this season after the Australian Open and Doha.
Alcaraz was quick to praise his rival: “You have showed the world the work you and your team are doing,” said the Spanish defending champion. “It’s nice to see you winning in front of your family.
“This is not the ending we wanted but I’ve enjoyed every day here at the only one-week Masters tournament remaining.
“We enjoyed every day on and off the court here.”
Main photo:- Jannik Sinner with Monte Carlo Masters trophy – by ISF Ltd
Jannik Sinner put pure power on display Saturday as the Italian reached his first Monte Carlo Masters final with a 6-1, 6-4 thrashing for an eighth straight win over Alexander Zverev.
The world No. 2 concluded his rout in 83 minutes with a driving forehand winner down the line on match point.
Sinner becomes the first man since Novak Djokovic in 2015 to reach the final of the first three Masters events of a season. The Italian won titles last month in Indian Wells and Miami before pivoting to the European clay of the principality.
Sinner has not lost to the third-ranked Zverev since the US Open three years ago.
The Italian got away to an opening break in his 21st consecutive match win and never let Zverev into the semi-final.
The pair have now met in the last four Masters semi-finals dating to the Paris Indoors last November,
Sinner will compete for the title on Sunday against the winner from defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Monegasque breakthrough Valentin Vacherot, setting national records with every win here.
“Every match is different and I’m happy with this win,” Sinner said. “We came here hoping to get some feedback (on his game).
“Reaching the final means a lot to me. I felt really solid from the beginning. Getting an early break always influences the dynamics of the match
“I’m looking forward to the final; playing those is why I wake up. I’ve got nothing to lose. Making the final means a lot to me.”
Main photo:- Resolute Sinner wins semi final in Monte Carlo – by ISF Ltd
An undisclosed injury will prevent Aryna Sabalenka from fronting up in Stuttgart as the WTA begins the spring clay season at its traditional indoor venue on Monday.
The world No. 1 who lifted the Miami Masters title in March to conclude the so-called American “Sunshine Double”, said that she would not be competing at the German venue, but revealed few specifics.
“Unfortunately, I suffered an injury after Miami and even though I tried everything to recover in time, I’m not ready to compete,” she said on Instagram
“I always love coming back to Stuttgart. The atmosphere, the fans and the support I feel there are so special to me, and of course, I was really hoping to have another chance to fight for that Porsche.”
Sabalenka has played and lost four finals at the event which awards a Porsche to the champion.
Main photo:- Aryna Sabalenka completed the Sunshine Double – by ISF Ltd
Sun shines as Zverev reaches Munich quarters
RG to retain the human touch in linecalling
Red alert for Alcaraz as wrist injury flares
-
ATP4 weeks agoFrench Tennis Federation release Roland Garros 2026 poster by JR
-
ATP4 weeks agoFonseca to provide a tough start for Alcaraz
-
ATP4 weeks agoSinner makes a move as No. 1 race tightens
-
ATP4 weeks agoAlcaraz re-establishes seeded superiority over Fonseca
-
ATP4 weeks ago
Sinner storms into 3rd round in rainy Miami
-
Indian wells4 weeks agoSabalenka secures 7th straight win on US hardcourt
-
ATP4 weeks agoKorda topples Alcaraz in monster Miami win
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoRetirement ends upset dreams for UK spolier Jones