Week 12 - WTA Premier ($6.1M) - Miami, USA Hard

Grachka · County player

Week 12 - WTA Premier ($6.1M) - Miami, USA Hard

DF · Tennis legend

She wins 6-2 6-2
Into last 8

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Just superb

GSM 6-2 6-2
Scoreline truly flatters Niculescu!
If you can find a recording of the first three games, do so!
Hopefully Vika & Garbi will slug each other into exhaustion for three hours or so now; Jo plays the winner of tht match next.

Well done Jo. Our first ever Prem Mandatory QFist

paulisi · Tennis legend

Emphatic win. Very aggressive and great to see a change of plan and more approach play to the net.

Interesting discussion about Jo's weapons. Jo's serve is normally her big weapon, but it wasn't quite on fire today. However Jo hits a lot of winners from the backhand and especially that cross backhand where she generates a lot of pace. I'd say she has one of the best backhands in the women's game.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I agree, paulisi, that angle she gets on the backhand is new/recent. The forehand is all ironed out too. And strategy seems to have come on leaps and bounds. I wonder if the LTA coaches are feeling a bit sheepish....

Brilliant, JoKo !

indiana · Tennis legend

As I kind of thought it would be, it's only the top half women's QFs being played tomorrow ( along with all the men's L16 matches ) so even if Azarenka and Muguruza have a right slugfest ( and it's first set Vika on a TB ) the winner has a day off tomorrow.

markymc1983 · Club Coach

Excellent! I believe one more win here will see JoKo into the top 20!

Julia Carrot · All-time great

I did think Jo was 'losing it' a little bit in the last few games. She looked relieved, rather than delighted, I thought, when she finally clinched the match.

Jimmy09 · Intermediate Club Player

Well done Jo. Great composure and an excellent performance How on earth Niculescuis where she is I will never know!!

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

markymc1983 wrote:
Excellent! I believe one more win here will see JoKo into the top 20!

Another two I think. She doesn't pass Errani with one.

Incredibly happy for her. Happy for Hev though even though she didn't get the W, it was a good match and a good week. Now just need Muzzah to win this last set...

indiana · Tennis legend

markymc1983 wrote:
Excellent! I believe one more win here will see JoKo into the top 20!

I make it not quite.

At the moment Jo's points are 2028 - 18 ( 16th best ) + 215 ( Miami QF ) = 2225 and she's live ranked 21

If she reached the SF, she would be : 2028 - 18 + 390 = 2400

Her next target, live ranked 20 and out is Sara Errani : 2530 - 120 ( last year's Miami ) + 10 ( L64 here ) = 2420 and she would still be a fair way still behind anyone else.

Also if Madison Keys, currently live ranked 22, wins her L16 match against Begu she will be just 15 points behind Jo : 2005 - 10 + 215 = 2210 and would remain a threat.

Of course Flavia Pennetta has retired so is steadily dropping back and who knows re how the Sharapova situation will shake out, so she should take them in time and if Jo reached the final here she really would be in business for overtaking a few more and getting into the top 20 post Miami ( Errani, Ivanovic and Karolina Pliskova for starters ).

Edit : what Helen said is rather shorter and to the point ( at least we agree ! )

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 28th of March 2016 10:13:22 PM

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Seeing Heather's leg strapped I'm sort of glad she can regroup now after a good run rather than having to risk further injury here. Up to world #54 on Monday :D

Great job Jo, so glad she solved the Niculescu puzzle :D

nicofrance · Strong Club Player

Looks like a very difficult task for Konta in the next round. Azarenka is playing very well and full of confidence. They have played before but Azarenka had to retire because of injury. Johanna will have to be at the top of her game and serve well.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Jimmy09 wrote:
How on earth Niculescu is where she is I will never know!!

The Force slice can have a strong influence on the weak-minded.

Hope Jo can play her best against Vika, who looks pretty awesome this year. Should be an interesting benchmark.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Even if she loses I won't be too disappointed. Last 8, definitely going in the right direction.