Some people are saying Miami is losing its status as 5th Slam in favor of Indian Wells, but with the entire top 32 competing here (except for the injured Stosur), I beg to differ on the WTA side! Miami will be a fierce battlefield, that's for sure.
Last year's tournament was a total surprise with Bartoli defeating Azarenka for the first time in 2012 and Wozniacki beating Serena both in the quarterfinals. But Sharapova and Radwanska were the one to profit from it, both struggling respectively with Serena and Azarenka as nemesis. The Pole took the title with a consistent: 7-5, 6-4 win.
So now let's check out that draw:
- Seeded players in the top half = Serena, Wozniacki, Na Li, Radwanska, Venus Williams, Bartoli and Kvitova (talk about a packed draw! Serena can get her revenge on Wozniacki in the semi's while Radwanska yet again gets drawn in Venus' half!)
- Seeded players in the bottom half = Errani, Ivanovic, Kirilenko, Sharapova, Kerber, Azarenka (somewhat the easier part of the draw)
- Underdog of the tournament = neither William sisters has it easy, but I still chose for Petkovic because she doesn't get a first round bye. First she faces Jovanovski which is quite do-able but she's been on injury break for quite a while now! Next is Bartoli and possibly Goerges in the third round. To get into the quarterfinals, she'll have to get past a determined Kvitova before meeting either Venus or Radwanska there. After that Serena awaits in the semi's and in the final either Sharapova or Azarenka most likely. I'm guessing her impossible draw will end in the second round with a three set loss against Bartoli.
- Interesting early round matches to look forward to = Serena vs. Pennetta (second round), Bartoli vs. Petkovic (second round), Kuznetsova vs. Makarova (second round), Urzsula Radwanska vs. Ivanovic (second round), Kerber vs. Schiavone (second round), Wozniacki vs. Pavlyuchenkova (third round), Radwanska vs. Barthel (third round) and Venus vs. Stephens (third round)
Keep posted!
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