Weeks 10&11 - WTA1000 - Indian Wells, USA Hard

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

RE: Weeks 10&11 - WTA1000 - Indian Wells, USA Hard

the addict · Tennis legend

JonH - you need to keep up !
" Yes, it was an exhibition event for charity. Rybakina and Fritz won, but Katie and Alex lost in the first round to last year's winners Navarro and Shelton."

Lambda · ATP qualifying

JonH comes home wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Katie played some sort of Tiebreak Tens event at Indian Wells yesterday, no?

Sorry if this has been mentioned before

This is separate from the actual mixed doubles next week?
Is there an actual mixed doubles next week? I didnt think IW has a mixed doubles tournie, it was just this exho?
The US Open is also planning something like this, where it (in their case) has a mixed doubles event pre the US Open itself and that is over shortened entry list and format (cant recall but dont think it is tie break tens, more likely two sets and an MTB?. But the point being, dropping the old style mixed format that ran alongside the main events, as happens in the other sliams.
They did it for the first time last year and it was a big success so they're doing it again this year, as the addict says
Ok, cool, I missed that / who won it last year?!

Matt Ebden and Storm Hunter

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
JonH - you need to keep up !
" Yes, it was an exhibition event for charity. Rybakina and Fritz won, but Katie and Alex lost in the first round to last year's winners Navarro and Shelton."

No, I meant who won the "main event" or whatever it was called last year! But I see Lambda has confirmed that!

Sorry, yes, I was aware of the tie break tens thing this year, sorry, I had read that!!

Sheddie · administrator

indiana wrote:
Re Sonay, I'd still say, kind of in line with CD, that last year was a very big breakthrough year for her with Wimbledon, Tunisia and her big rankings rise.

I see her now being ranked about in line with her talent. I don't think underranked. At still just 23 yo, and particularly with a few tournaments making up a big proportion of her points, I do see 2025 as a year in which she should aim to at least consolidate her ranking, and that to my mind would be absolutely fine. If it turns out rather better than that, great.

I agree. I have to say I wasn't sure if Sonay would ever crack the top 100, so last year was an unexpected delight and she's done extremely well to get to 80ish in the world.

With those huge chunks of points coming off in July and September, I'd count it as a success if she ends 2025 still in the top 100. Longer term, I'm not sure if she serves big enough to make it to the top 50, but she's already proved me wrong so who knows!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
the addict wrote:
JonH - you need to keep up !
" Yes, it was an exhibition event for charity. Rybakina and Fritz won, but Katie and Alex lost in the first round to last year's winners Navarro and Shelton."
No, I meant who won the "main event" or whatever it was called last year! But I see Lambda has confirmed that!
Sorry, yes, I was aware of the tie break tens thing this year, sorry, I had read that!!

I see Joe played it last year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_BNP_Paribas_Open_%E2%80%93_Mixed_doubles

indiana · Tennis legend

Indian Wells and the US Open seem to be going in very different directions with regards to Mixed Doubles - re such as a tournament, albeit invitational and limited in numbers, running alongside the main events and with a bit more focus on, or at least chance for specialists judging by last year. All rather confusing.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Indian Wells and the US Open seem to be going in very different directions with regards to Mixed Doubles - re such as a tournament, albeit invitational and limited in numbers, running alongside the main events and with a bit more focus on, or at least chance for specialists judging by last year. All rather confusing.

I actually think there is a narrative opportunity here for IW and the Slams - if they linked the 4 mixed slams via some sort of points system, all 4 slams encouraged more singles players to play, perhaps in 16 pair fields as opposed to 32, and then the top 8 pairs (maybe the 4 slam winning pairs plus 4 other points leading pairs) could play the mixed event at IW as a sort of Mixed doubles world championships with some big money on the line.

I think that would have marketing legs, probably no chance in reality of getting anywhere.

GBJ · Club Coach

JonH comes home wrote:
indiana wrote:
Indian Wells and the US Open seem to be going in very different directions with regards to Mixed Doubles - re such as a tournament, albeit invitational and limited in numbers, running alongside the main events and with a bit more focus on, or at least chance for specialists judging by last year. All rather confusing.
I actually think there is a narrative opportunity here for IW and the Slams - if they linked the 4 mixed slams via some sort of points system, all 4 slams encouraged more singles players to play, perhaps in 16 pair fields as opposed to 32, and then the top 8 pairs (maybe the 4 slam winning pairs plus 4 other points leading pairs) could play the mixed event at IW as a sort of Mixed doubles world championships with some big money on the line.
I think that would have marketing legs, probably no chance in reality of getting anywhere.

Really like this idea

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

GBJ wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
indiana wrote:
Indian Wells and the US Open seem to be going in very different directions with regards to Mixed Doubles - re such as a tournament, albeit invitational and limited in numbers, running alongside the main events and with a bit more focus on, or at least chance for specialists judging by last year. All rather confusing.
I actually think there is a narrative opportunity here for IW and the Slams - if they linked the 4 mixed slams via some sort of points system, all 4 slams encouraged more singles players to play, perhaps in 16 pair fields as opposed to 32, and then the top 8 pairs (maybe the 4 slam winning pairs plus 4 other points leading pairs) could play the mixed event at IW as a sort of Mixed doubles world championships with some big money on the line.
I think that would have marketing legs, probably no chance in reality of getting anywhere.
Really like this idea

I might license it and try and sell the idea! I think mixed has more tv appeal than the other forms in fact, regardless of how seriously we take it. Tv wise , the channels would take to it more than mens and womens doubles

9vicman · Satellite level

Meanwhile Roland Garros's solution is to allow people with ground passes to access centre court to watch the mixed doubles final in 2025. Doubt there's going to be any kind of consensus.

9vicman · Satellite level

And zero chance of the Slams agreeing to a tour event hosting the finale of one of their championships.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

9vicman wrote:
And zero chance of the Slams agreeing to a tour event hosting the finale of one of their championships.

No I know - I did say it had no chance!

Not to say it isnt a good idea though!

PaulM · Tennis legend

Emma looks very much second best here

3-6 *0-0

First serve % is very high but it's doing nothing. She's only held once. The Japanese player looks comfortable in the conditions and keeping it all nice and tidy.

-- Edited by PaulM on Thursday 6th of March 2025 10:18:45 PM

DF · Tennis legend

It does not look as if Emma wants to win. She is tentative but mangages to hit her shots wide.