MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz are every midway to reaching the 2024 Sunshine Double.
On Sunday, in entrance of a star-studded crowd that included Zendaya, Tom Holland and Charlize Theron, Swiatek defeated Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 in simply 68 minutes to assert her second Indian Wells title. Shortly after, Alcaraz efficiently defended his Indian Wells crown with a comeback victory over Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (5), 6-1, for his first title since successful Wimbledon in July.
It was a powerful exhibiting within the California desert for each gamers, who proceed to be two of the brightest younger superstars within the sport.
Swiatek, 22, leads the WTA Tour with a 20-2 file on the season, and misplaced simply 21 complete video games throughout her six matches at Indian Wells. The win furthered her maintain on the world No. 1 rating. And since she was unable to play in Miami final 12 months as a consequence of a rib damage, she has no factors to defend in Miami, and can doubtless solely lengthen that lead extra over the subsequent two weeks. Swiatek gained the Sunshine Double in 2022 — and appears greater than able to repeating the feat.
Alcaraz, 20, had a difficult begin to his season, shedding within the quarterfinals on the Australian Open after which struggling an ankle damage in Rio final month. However after falling right into a 3-0 deficit in opposition to Medvedev on Sunday, Alcaraz fought again and have become the primary man to defend his title in Indian Wells since Novak Djokovic in 2016. Alcaraz stays world No. 2 and brings a brand new surge of momentum with him to Miami, the place he reached the semifinals in 2023.
The 1000-level Miami Open will get underway on Tuesday at Exhausting Rock Stadium — residence of the Miami Dolphins — with 96 gamers in every of the singles attracts and 32 doubles groups. Petra Kvitova, who’s pregnant and sidelined from competitors, and Medvedev are the defending champions. The event started on a tragic be aware because of the demise of Aryna Sabalenka’s boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, on Monday. Sabalenka remains to be anticipated to play.
Here is what we discovered from Indian Wells — and what all of it means for Miami.
Again to the drafting board for Djokovic
There was a number of consideration on Djokovic coming into Indian Wells. He was taking part in there for the primary time in 5 years, and in his first event since shedding to Jannik Sinner within the Australian Open semifinals. Whereas Djokovic appeared to have some enjoyable whereas on website, and at a a number of Los Angeles Lakers video games, it is protected to say the journey did not precisely stay as much as his, or anybody’s, expectations.
The 24-time main champion — and five-time victor at Indian Wells — misplaced within the third spherical 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to Luca Nardi, a 20-year-old fortunate loser. Nardi, ranked No. 123 on the planet, turned the lowest-ranked participant to ever beat Djokovic at a Masters 1000-level occasion.
Djokovic praised Nardi after the match, but additionally criticized his personal “actually, actually dangerous” degree of play and appeared considerably surprised by the outcomes of his season to this point.
“I may have executed the whole lot totally different,” Djokovic advised reporters after the loss. “I imply, as I mentioned, very poor efficiency from my facet. Yeah, no titles this 12 months. That is not one thing I am used to. I used to be beginning the season most of my profession with a Grand Slam win or, you already know, Dubai win, or any or event.
“It is nice. You understand, it is a part of the game. You simply have to just accept it. Some you win; some you lose. Hopefully I will win some extra and nonetheless preserve going. I suppose each trophy that finally comes my means goes to be nice (smiling), clearly to interrupt the sort of detrimental cycle a bit bit I am having within the final three, 4 tournaments the place I have not actually been near my finest.”
Djokovic was unsure on the time if he would play Miami and mentioned he wanted a couple of days to consider it as he was nonetheless “hot-headed” following the defeat. Finally he determined to withdraw, citing a have to steadiness his “non-public {and professional} schedule.” He’ll now have a number of weeks to arrange for the upcoming clay season and his French Open protection mission. Maybe the brand new floor will likely be what will get his season again on monitor.
Hello Miami!
Sadly I will not be taking part in the @MiamiOpen this 12 months. At this stage of my profession, I am balancing my non-public {and professional} schedule. I am sorry that I will not expertise among the finest and most passionate followers on the planet. I am wanting fw competing in MI in future!— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) March 16, 2024
Rafael Nadal, who had been slated to make his return to competitors at Indian Wells earlier than withdrawing, may also miss Miami. Like Djokovic, he’s anticipated to return for the clay season.
Constructing momentum
Medvedev arrives in Miami because the defending champion, however he has misplaced his final 5 finals, together with on Sunday at Indian Wells. Nonetheless, he advised reporters he was glad along with his efficiency all through the event and was optimistic about his recreation.
“I am actually, actually pleased with [these] two weeks,” Medvedev mentioned. “At this time, the very first thing I requested myself within the locker room — not myself, my coach — I used to be like, ‘I do not really feel I’ve any regrets. Do you’ve got any regrets?’ He mentioned, ‘Yeah, we are able to speak about one shot right here and there, however typically the match was not dangerous. He is taking part in good.'”
Medvedev misplaced to Alcaraz within the 2023 Indian Wells closing, and he then went on to win in Miami, so he should be hoping historical past repeats itself.
Sakkari, the opposite finalist from the weekend, will likely be seeking to construct off of her finest results of the season. After splitting along with her longtime coach and (quickly) falling out of the highest 10 earlier this 12 months, Sakkari joined forces with David Witt, the previous coach of Venus Williams and Jessica Pegula, and reached the ultimate of their first event collectively. Sakkari mentioned she was “already fascinated with Miami” throughout her postmatch information convention on Sunday.
“You by no means wish to lose and depart the event as a loser, however on the similar time, there are such a lot of good issues that occurred the final two weeks that I can not simply ignore,” Sakkari mentioned.
Sakkari, who’s now ranked No. 9, reached the semifinals in Miami in 2021 however has misplaced within the second spherical in each of her appearances since.
The comeback children
Indian Wells proved to be a powerful event for most of the sport’s not too long ago returned huge names. Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, who got here again in August after greater than three years away and after giving delivery to 2 youngsters, had the perfect results of her comeback by reaching the quarterfinals. She needed to retire from her match in opposition to Swiatek 6-4, 1-0 as a consequence of a toe damage, nevertheless it nonetheless proved to be a profitable occasion and her rating rose from No. 204 to No. 129.
Three-time main champion Angelique Kerber, who returned from maternity depart at the beginning of the season, additionally recorded her strongest exhibiting to this point with a visit to the Spherical of 16. She misplaced to Wozniacki, however her rating additionally rose dramatically from No. 607 to No. 342. Fellow new mother Naomi Osaka, the four-time main winner who additionally got here again in January, reached the third spherical.
Wozniacki, Kerber and Osaka will all be again in motion this week in Miami and seeking to construct on their latest momentum.
However they will not be the one gamers on the comeback path in South Florida. Simona Halep, the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon champion, makes her eagerly awaited return as a wild card following the discount of her doping suspension earlier this month. Halep, 32, has not competed because the 2022 US Open and can tackle Paula Badosa within the opening spherical.
Halep, who’s a two-time semifinalist in Miami, posted apply footage from the event final week on her Instagram story and wrote merely: “Looks like I by no means left.”
Will that feeling stay throughout her first match in 18 months? Keep tuned.
Former world No. 4 and 2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori can be slated to make his return this week as a wild card. The 34-year-old has performed sparingly over the previous two seasons as a consequence of hip surgical procedure and accidents, and final performed on the Atlanta Open in July.
It has been a monumental 12 months for 22-year-old American Emma Navarro. The 2021 NCAA singles champion gained her first WTA title in Hobart to open the season, reached the third spherical at a significant for the primary time on the Australian Open, then superior to her first 1000-level quarterfinals at Indian Wells behind upset victories over Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka.
Navarro misplaced to Sakkari in three units, however is now ranked a brand new career-high of No. 2 and is the fourth-ranked American girl — and her Indian Wells run made fairly the impression.
“Little question she’s going to be on prime for some time,” Sabalenka mentioned after their match. “Her potential is basically nice. I believe she’s already within the prime. Yeah, I believe she have the potential to be in [the] prime 10.”
With a first-round bye, Navarro will open her Miami Open in opposition to Martina Trevisan or a qualifier and can look to proceed her star-making 2024.
Different People to observe
There are numerous tennis gamers who stay and prepare in Florida, however maybe nobody will get a much bigger reception from the group on the Miami Open than Delray Seaside native Coco Gauff. The 2023 US Open champion reached the semifinals at Indian Wells for the primary time final week — and celebrated her twentieth birthday on the event — and will likely be seeking to win her second title of 2024. Gauff, the world No. 3, will play both American Ashlyn Krueger or a qualifier in her opening match.
Gauff and Pegula are the defending doubles champions, and can attempt to repeat for his or her first title collectively of the season.
Tommy Paul reached the semifinals within the desert for the primary time, and recorded assertion wins over Casper Ruud and Ugo Humbert. Now ranked No. 14, Paul is the second-highest ranked American man, behind solely Taylor Fritz. Paul will look to stake his declare for the highest spot in Miami, in addition to win his first Masters 1000-level title. The 26-year-old, who’s initially from New Jersey however lives in Boca Raton, opens performs in opposition to Zhizhen Zhang or Martin Damm
And, in fact, there’s Venus Williams, 43, who obtained a wild card to play. Williams made her season debut at Indian Wells, the place she misplaced to Nao Hibino 2-6, 6-3, 6-0. Williams is a three-time champion in Miami and is taking part in the occasion for the primary time since 2021. Presently ranked No. 457 and having performed a restricted schedule lately, Williams — who has spent the previous a number of a long time residing in South Florida — will tackle Diana Shnaider within the first spherical.