Jo has been playing so well recently that she is a contender for the big tournaments and it would be great to see her win on of the GS/PM/P5 titles. The courts are apparently playing fast here which, as in Melbourne, will suit her. However fast courts will also help two other notable players in Jo's section, Vandeweghe and Pliskova.
Jo has withdrawn Left foot injury, presumably the one from Fed Cup. Damaged herself and her personal prospects for the good of the team it seems - and people elsewhere will still just call her 'Aussie'
That's a shame as she had an interesting draw (would like to see her take on CoCo) and an opportunity to put on some points.
But best to rest up for IW and Miami. Must be just a niggle if they travelled in the first place (if it was serious she would have stayed home), but not quite comfortable enough on it to compete.
-- Edited by PaulM on Saturday 18th of February 2017 03:12:43 PM
Dubai field is decimated it seems - only 5 of the 16 seeds made the last 16 and looking at the first few into the last 8, it is still going South.
Shame Jo got injured, could have been a big opportunity...
Yes, it might have been a big opportunity for Jo in a Premier 5, which carries almost twice the level of points of the Premiers she has previously won.
I guess at least on the flip side so many of her ( we'd like to think ) potential rankings rivals have exited early - Pliskova, Cibulkova and Muguruza at their first opportunity and Radwanska at the last 16 stage.
With these eliminations and other non appearances only WR 2 Kerber of the top 12 ranked has made the QF.
I see that Jo has dropped 105 points ( i.e. one of her Premier 5 scores ) to go from 3705 points down to 3600 points.
I believe it's to do with compulsory number of Premier 5s top 10 players are due to play ( I believe 4 out of the 5 ) and only having played 3 of them in the last year she has evidently been given a mandatory zero.
Caroline Wozniacki for one has complained about such WTA ( and ATP ) rules in the past, in that it could encourage players to play when unfit.
It is a difficult one though if they want to encourage the top players to play the top events. No penalty and I am sure some would come up with good excuses for missing events they didn't fancy, but a bit tough on some genuinely injured players.
