ZCZC
BSP-05
TENNIS-WTA-ATP-USA
Djokovic, Osaka win Miami openers as Thiem tumbles
MIAMI, March 23, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Novak Djokovic put his Indian Wells
disappointment behind him on Friday at the ATP and WTA Miami Open with a
ruthless 7-6 (7/2) 6-2 destruction of Australian Bernard Tomic to move into
the third round.
The Serbian world number one endured a meek exit at the hands of German
Philipp Kohlschreiber in the California desert but arrived desperate to land
what would be a record seventh title in South Florida.
Tomic, the current world No. 81, gave the 31-year-old a few problems yet
the Australian struggles to consistently challenge the best players and this
was evident once again as Djokovic eased through the gears at Hard Rock
Stadium with just one hour and 13 minutes on the clock.
“In Indian Wells I wasn’t feeling my best,” conceded Djokovic who won 81%
of points on his first serve and hit 11 aces.
“Everyone has nerves coming onto center court regardless of how much
experience you have and what your ranking is. You care about it and if you
are nervous that means you care.
“I commonly feel like that. This was my first time playing at this new
stadium, it felt like being indoor a little bit. It’s unique.
“Now hopefully,” he added, “I can build some momentum.”
On a day that saw Djokovic, top-ranked woman Naomi Osaka and 23-time Grand
Slam champion Serena Williams advance, the shock of the day was the departure
of Indian Wells Masters winner Dominic Thiem, who was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by
highly rated Polish 22-year-old Hubert Hurkacz.
Elsewhere, there was disappointment for Kei Nishikori. The fifth seed lost
to Serbian Dusan Lajovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 but reigning champion John Isner
outlasted Italian qualifier Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (7/2), 7-6, (9/7).
Japanese star Osaka had to keep her emotions in check as she opened her
campaign by outlasting Yanina Wickmayer 6-0, 6-7 (3/7), 6-1.
Since winning her second consecutive Grand Slam title in January at the
Australian Open, Osaka has failed to go deep in Dubai or Indian Wells.
But she appeared in solid form against 141st-ranked Wickmayer, despite
losing her way in the middle of an entertaining match at Hard Rock Stadium.
The 21 year-old was forced to dig deep after the Belgian, who reached the
Miami Open last eight in 2010, forced a third set as Osaka’s game badly
dipped. – ‘Just breathe’ –
“In the second set, I got really emotional, so in the third, I just tried
to shut off my feelings,” Osaka said. “I started thinking about winning and
not the things I could do in order to win. I had a dip and she started
playing really well.
“I just had to breathe and regroup,” she said. “I find myself doing it
often when I am in emotional situations, it’s like an energy saver.”
Next up in the third round is Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei, who defeated American
Alison Riske 6-2, 7-5.
The pair had a rollercoaster clash in the Australian Open at the start of
2019 with Hsieh a set and 4-1 up in Melbourne only to lose a dramatic third-
round encounter.
Serena Williams survived a second-set lull to beat Sweden’s Rebecca
Peterson 6-3, 1-6, 6-1, and elder sister Venus also advanced with a 7-6
(7/4), 6-1 win over Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro.
There will be a repeat of last week’s WTA final in Indian Wells between
Bianca Andreescu and Angelique Kerber.
Canadian 18-year-old Andreescu, who brilliantly won her maiden WTA title in
California, beat American Sofia Kenin 6-3,6-3 to book a third-round meeting
with three-time Grand Slam winner Kerber, who saw off Russia’s Karolina
Muchova 3-6 6-3 6-3.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0944 hrs