Reflections on the WTA Tour ahead of Indian Wells and Miami

7
Wilson Blade 9

Indian Wells and Miami, together offering more than $10 million in prize money, are underway and our contributor Omair wanted to share with you his reflections and questions about which outcomes the two big events will bring. Tell us your views in the comments!

Before doing a quick recap of the star-studded tournaments in 2012 so far, I will have a look at the questions I’d like to have answered during Indian Wells and Miami:

  1. How long will Victoria Azarenka’s streak continue?
  2. Can Caroline Wozniacki bounce back from the disappointing start of 2012? At this time last year, she had already won one title (Dubai) and was runner-up at Doha and had a semifinal showing at the Australian Open. This year she has yet to make a final.
  3. How will Petra Kvitova fare? She has played only two Fed Cup matches after losing to Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open.
  4. Is Agnieszka Radwanska for real? No one other than Azarenka has been able to beat Radwanska so far in 2012.
  5. Can Sharapova bounce back from a disappointing loss to Angelique Kerber at Paris?
  6. How will Li Na fare? Will her slump continue like last year, or will she show her game?
  7. Where does Vera Zvonareva stand after a very disappointing start of 2012? She is 4-4 so far this year.
  8. Will Julia Georges be able to build on her momentum or will we see her inconsistency again?

Two great tournaments and intriguing matches await us. How do you see women’s tennis so far in 2012 and what will you be watching out for during the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments?

Now let’s see how top 4 seeds at star-studded tourneys have fared so far in 2012.

Sydney

Top 4 seeds, with the lone exception of Caroline Wozniacki, made it to the semifinals. The semifinals and the finals were all promising matches, all three going to three sets. It was Sydney where we saw Victoria Azarenka excelling.

Australian Open

Here again 3 of the top 4 seeds made it to the semifinals, again with the lone exception of Caroline Wozniacki who lost in the quarters to defending champion Kim Clijsters. The semifinals proved to be great battles with Azarenka toughing it out against Clijsters and Maria Sharapova just hanging in against Petra Kvitova. Although the final was one-sided, Azarenka won in straight sets, it did show that the women at the top are ready to back up their rankings with strong and deep runs at tournaments.

Doha

Doha was Azarenka’s first event as the new world No.1. Again we saw 3 of the top 4 seeds making it to the semifinals. I think you would have guessed the lone exception of the top 4 seeds, not making the semis, yes you are right, it was Wozniacki , yet again. Azarenka handed Radwanska her third defeat of 2012 in as many meetings, while Marion Bartoli retired after she lost the first set to Samantha Stosur. Azarenka routed Stosur in straight sets to claim her third title of 2012 in as many tournaments.

Tell us what you think! How would you answer my questions?

Related Omair’s article: How likely is an Australian Open warm-up tournament winner to win the Melbourne Grand Slam? (photos: Johan Rivera)

7 COMMENTS

  1. In response to your questions here are some bold (and misguided!) predictions:
    1. Azarenka’s streak will end during Miami. She will be victorious in Indian Wells.
    2. Wozniacki will post solid results over the next month but no titles.
    3. Kvitova wins through a few rounds in both IW and Miami but doesn’t get past the quarter-finals in either.
    4. Radwanska continues to play well… but she still won’t get past Vika!
    5. Sharapova will post excellent results over the next month including reaching the final in IW.
    6. Li Na won’t set the world alight at IW and Miami but will post a few wins on the board unlike in 2011.
    7. Zvonareva will continue her 2012 slump.
    8. Goerges will post more solid results during IW and Miami, but nothing spectacular.

  2. P!nky, luckily you didn’t predict JJ to win IW. 🙂

    James, thanks for contributing such concrete predictions.

  3. Marine, good observation. Omair and me concluded that we should break from the stats for some time, there had been too many, so Omair’s latest contribution is a non-statistical article.

  4. When i said Maria to win IW, I didn’t put any thought into it, it was just a whim of the moment prediction

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here