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Miami Open: Petra Kvitova loses to Ashleigh Barty in quarter-finals

  • Posted: Mar 27, 2019

Petra Kvitova will not become world number one for the first time next week after she was beaten by Ashleigh Barty in the Miami Open quarter-finals.

The Czech lost 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 6-2, hours after a man was jailed for eight years for stabbing her at her home in 2016.

Kvitova, 29, needed to reach the final to have a chance of replacing Naomi Osaka at the top of the rankings.

Barty will play Anett Kontaveit in the semi-finals, after the Estonian beat Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei 3-6 6-2 7-5.

Victory was Australian Barty’s first over Kvitova in five attempts.

Australian Open runner-up Kvitova came from 3-0 down in the final set to get back on serve, but double-faulted on match point as the 22-year-old 12th seed wrapped up victory in just under three hours.

Kontaveit overcame a rain delay to see off world number 27 Su-wei, who beat world number one Naomi Osaka in the third round and 13th seed Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth.

Second seed Simona Halep plays Qiang Wang and Czech Karolina Pliskova faces Marketa Vondrousova in the remaining quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Romanian Halep will replace Osaka as world number one if she reaches the final.

  • Djokovic & Edmund lose in fourth round

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Djokovic Rethinking Plans After Second Miami Upset

  • Posted: Mar 27, 2019

Djokovic Rethinking Plans After Second Miami Upset

Mar272019

Serbian will head home to prepare for European clay-court season

Novak Djokovic might be rethinking his ATP Tour schedule after a second consecutive year of early exits at the ATP Masters 1000 events in March.

Djokovic has long dominated the “Sunshine Double”, winning it four times and as recently as 2016 (2011, 2014-16). Those eight titles alone count for a fourth of Djokovic’s total Masters 1000 title haul (32).

But for the past two years, the Serbian hasn’t made a quarter-final at either Masters 1000 event, the Miami Open presented by Itau and the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

His latest setback came on Tuesday when he fell to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut for the second time this season 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the Miami fourth round.

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“It’s not the first time I lose early in both tournaments. I have done that the last couple of years. So definitely have to rethink how I prepare for Indian Wells/Miami next year,” said Djokovic, who came to Indian Wells not having played since the Australian Open in January.

“I just had way too many things off the court. I guess that affected me a little bit on the court. I didn’t feel my best health-wise, as well, in Indian Wells and here. Still rusty, but, hey, look, you learn that’s life.”

Djokovic converted only four of his 13 break points, and had a break point to go up 6-5 in the second set and serve for the match.

“He’s a solid player. Congratulations to him definitely for a great comeback. But this kind of match I should not have lost. So many opportunities. Just way too many wasted opportunities. This is what happens when you don’t capitalise on time,” Djokovic said.

Despite the disappointment, however, he should leave South Florida feeling much better about his game than he did a year ago. Last year, Djokovic lost his opening-round match at Indian Wells (Taro Daniel) and Miami (Benoit Paire).

Yet he had one of the best second halves to a season in ATP Tour history. From No. 22 in the ATP Rankings, Djokovic finished year-end No. 1 for the fifth time (2011-12, 2014-15). His 21-spot rise is the most any player has climbed to finish year-end No. 1.

Djokovic will now turn his focus to the European clay-court swing, where he will battle Rafael Nadal for the all-time Masters 1000 titles record (33). Djokovic also will try to hold all four Grand Slams for the second time in his career at Roland Garros.

“I grew up on clay, so I like playing on clay,” he said. “We’ll see. I definitely have to play better than I have these couple of tournaments.”

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Miami Open: Kyle Edmund distracted by crowd in loss to John Isner

  • Posted: Mar 26, 2019

British number one Kyle Edmund reacted angrily to noise from the crowd during his Miami Open fourth-round defeat by American John Isner.

He was trailing 5-3 in the second set tie-break when the point was stopped after he heard a shout from the crowd.

Umpire Carlos Bernardes ruled Edmund had lost the point as a result, with the Briton saying: “They keep shouting every point, I keep hearing it.”

Isner served an ace on the next point to wrap up a 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) win.

Eighth seed Isner will face either world number one Novak Djokovic or Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut next.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios was given a point penalty for appearing to swear at a member of the crowd during his loss to Borna Coric.

Kyrgios, who was abused by a spectator in his third-round win over Dusan Lajovic, also smashed his racquet in the 4-6 6-3 6-2 defeat.

He was given a warning for breaking the racquet – which he later gave to a crowd member – before being deducted a point for an audible obscenity.

The 23-year-old criticised umpire Gianluca Moscarella at a changeover, saying: “The entire match people were screaming out. You did not do one thing until I told you to do it.

“Honest feedback, you’ve done a terrible job.”

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