Miami - Day 11 Ash Barty wins title !

Day Eleven schedule in the Miami Open - the WTA final

Miami Open presented by Itaú - a WTA Premier Mandatory category tournament, on Hard Laykold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Sloane Stephens (13) who defeated Jelena Ostapenko (6) 7-6(5) 6-1

WTA final

• Ash Barty (12) v Karolina Plisková(5)

These two played each other once in each of the last three years.  Plisková won in the Nottingham quarters in 2016, Barty in the Wuhan quarters 2017, and Plisková in the 2018 US Open round of sixteen.

In 2012, the then teenager Barty won a match against Plisková on the futures circuit at Nottingham, a year after the Australian won junior Wimbledon, and two years before she took a break from the sport.

Barty served first and after exchanging service holds with Plisková , ran into trouble in game three, a double fault, effective Plisková drop shot and Barty netted backhand bringing up two break points.

One was saved with a good serve, but another netted backhand saw the Australian drop serve and trail 1-2.

The leveller came in the sixth game where Barty out rallied Plisková and  the Czech star leaked errors.  A poor backhand brought up 15-40 and Barty’s forehand winner confirmed the break.  3-3.

Serves were held until 6-6, although both players were taken to deuce in the seventh and eighth games.

The tie break was 1-1, but then Barty exerted her influence over the contest in a powerful manner.  A winning drop shot, a forehand down the line winner, and an ace were followed by two forehand errors off the Czech racquet and five set points arose.

A failed Plisková backhand handed the set to Barty 7-6(1).

The opening game of set two lasted what must have seemed a lifetime for Plisková, who was sent to deuce seven times and saw three game points evaporate.  Barty had four break chances before a fifth arrived via a Plisková netted forehand. Her wide backhand gave Barty the break, and the Australian consolidated with a service hold to 15.

More bother beset Plisková at the line in game three when six more trips to deuce were taken, and two break points had to be destroyed.

Plisková held on to her credit, but in an instant she was serving again after Barty delivered a love game.

5-3 arrived, and to this stage, Barty had won 16 of 18 points on her serve in the set.

Plisková was serving to stay in the match.

Barty hit a backhand cross court winner to start.  A backhand down the line winner made it 0-30.  A forehand down the line sizzler and three match points. Plisková pushed a forehand wide to end the contest, and Ash Barty had won the Miami Open, the biggest title in her career to date, 7-6(1) 6-3.

Not only does Ash move to a career high ranking of #9, but she also jumps seven spots to #4 in the 2019 WTA Race.

Miami - Day 10 Isner, Federer into final

It’s Day Ten in the Miami Open - the ATP semi finals.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Hard Layklold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

John Isner (14) who defeated Alexander Zverev (4) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-

ATP semi finals

• John Isner (7) v qualifier Felix Auger-Aliassime 

A first time meeting between 33 year old defending champion Isner and rampaging teenager Auger-Aliassime, who had come through qualifying to reach the semi finals.

The Canadian began the year ranked 108, and now is looking at the top fifty and beyond.

Isner served first and held without problem, four aces included.  The pair were comfortable on serve for the first four games, but at 2-2, Isner struggled, and needed to save three break points (he did, all with aces) before his opponent sent a forehand wide and it became 3-2.

Isner’s next time at the line was worse, as three errors provided Auger-Aliassime with three more break points.  A wayward forehand donated the break and the lead now belonged to the Canadian 4-3.

Serving for the set at 5-4, Auger-Aliassime double faulted twice, netted a forehand, and double faulted on break point.  Isner just watched and saw the score change to 5-5.

A tie break came after two love games.

At the first end change it was 3-3.  From there it was all Isner, winning a point off the Auger-Aliassime serve by attacking at the net, then delivering two brutal serves, one an ace.  6-3 and three set points.  A wide forehand from Canada and the set was American 7-6(3).

In set two, Auger-Aliassime saved a break point in the third game, and then put pressure on Isner in game six.  Isner had only been broken twice in the tournament before the semis, and the young Canadian already cracked the American serve once in set one.  He repeated the dose here,  after two errant American forehands and an exquisite Canadian cross court backhand pass brought up two break points.  The break came on the second of those with a wild forehand missing the court by several zip codes.

Serving for the set, Auger-Aliassime failed as he had similarly done in set one, Isner converting the second break chance with Auger-Aliassime hitting a straight forward forehand into the net.

A tie break eventuated, and Isner won the first point, against the Canadian serve.  After that every point went to the server, and John Isner served the match out 7-6(3) 7-6(4).

The American was first to the final with a chance to defend his title.

• Roger Federer (4) defeated Denis Shapovalov (20) 6-2 6-4 and will play John Isner in the final for the Miami Open trophy.

Miami - Day 9 Two Canadians in final 4

It’s Day Nine in the Miami Open - the WTA semi finals and last of the ATP quarter finals.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Hard Layklold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

John Isner (14) who defeated Alexander Zverev (4) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-

ATP quarter finals

• Kevin Anderson (6) v Roger Federer (4)

With one of the biggest serves in the business, Anderson potentially presented Federer with difficulty in achieving breaks of the delivery, and tie breaks would have been a high probability in deciding the match.

Only three times from thirty seven service games had Anderson been broken coming into his contest with Federer.

Federer broke Anderson as many times just in the opening set.

In the first game, the South African was clearly nervous, and the Swiss number one pounced on this - an Anderson backhand landing long gave Federer the break and a perfect start.

Perfection was the aim, and Federer came as close to it as anyone had so far in the tournament.  The only area of concern was the first serve percentage - 38 - but it mattered little as Federer won six of the ten points when required to send a second serve down. 6-0

Set two began with Anderson still yet to win a game trailing 0-2, but he recovered temporarily by sneaking a break of the Swiss serve and levelling at 3-3.

At 4-4, Anderson served a 14 minute game, complete with six deuces.

He saved three break points, and wasted three game points, before a sliced Federer return forced an Anderson forehand to stray wide and serve was broken.

Roger Federer served out the match 6-0 6-4 and advanced to the semi finals.

• Denis Shapovalov (20) defeated Frances Tiafoe (28) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-2

Semi final match ups

John Isner (7) v qualifier Felix Auger-Aliassime

Roger Federer (4) v Denis Shapovalov (20)

Two Canadians have made the final four.

Miami - Day 9 Barty, Pliskova win semis

Day Nine schedule in the Miami Open - the WTA semi finals and last of the ATP quarter finals.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - a WTA Premier Mandatory category tournament, on Hard Laykold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Sloane Stephens (13) who defeated Jelena Ostapenko (6) 7-6(5) 6-1

WTA semi finals 

• Anett Kontaveit (21) v Ash Barty (12)

The only time the two had clashed was in 2014 as teenagers in qualifying for Wimbledon - Kontaveit won that one.

Kontaveit opened brightly, hitting some crisp cross court shots, especially off her forehand, not allowing the Barty slice to come into effect.  The Estonian held serve well, and carried a confidence into the next game where she forced Barty into error enough to achieve a service break and lead 2-0.

Barty hit a winner in game three before rain came and delayed proceedings for a couple of hours.

Upon returning, Barty raced to three break points and on the third of these converted for 1-2, and a love game followed to tie things up, and rain came again.

Another lengthy delay before the pair returned and advanced the score to 3-3 after two strong service holds.

It was the Australian who broke open the match, her backhand slice beginning to worry Kontaveit and produce too many unforced errors off her racquet.  The break in game seven, followed by a consolidating service hold, albeit requiring the dismissal of a break point, left Kontaveit at the line, needing to hold to stay in the set.

Barty broke again, this time to love, and led 6-3.

In set two, Barty saw two game points float away, and as in the first set she was broken to trail 1-2.

Steadying, Barty rode the back of Kontaveit errors to break and level at 3-3, and take the lead after evading a break point through strong serving.

From 3-4 and deuce, Kontaveit lost two rallies with forehand failures and found herself one game away from defeat.

On the first match point, Kontaveit played a marvellous drop shot winner.  However, it wasn’t enough.  Ash Barty served an ace to win 6-3 6-3 and book a place in her first Premier Mandatory final.

• Karolina Pliskova (5) defeated Simona Halep (2) 7-5 6-1

Miami - Day 8 Isner defence still alive

It’s Day Eight in the Miami Open - the first ATP quarter finals and last of the WTA quarter finals.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Hard Layklold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

John Isner (14) who defeated Alexander Zverev (4) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-

ATP round of sixteen 

• Roger Federer (4) defeated Daniil Medvedev (13) 6-4 6-2

ATP quarter finals

• Roberto Bautista Agut (22) v John Isner (7)

Defending champion Isner was up against a confident Bautista Agut, fresh off a fantastic win over Djokovic.

The pair had played each other three times before, but a while ago, Isner winning in Beijing 2013 and Auckland 2014, and Bautista Agut in Auckland 2016.

Isner served first and began with an ace - no surprise.  Three more of those and an easy hold.  Bautista Agut surrendered just one point and a backhand winner was his highlight. 1-1.

Game three presented the first problem on serve, and it was the Spaniard who needed to deal with it.  After leading 40-15,  there came a double fault, a long forehand,  a wide forehand and break point.  A long rally ended with an Isner volley finding the net and Bautista Agut held on for 2-2.

Isner was taken to deuce in games nine and eleven, but neither player faced a break point for the remainder of the set, meaning a tie break.

Isner put away a forehand to achieve a mini break.  From 2-1,  it was a procession for Isner.  He won all his points on serve, and a forehand winner on the Bautista Agut serve at 4-1,  plus a double fault at 1-5, gave Isner five set points.  An ace and opening set to the American 7-6(1).

Neither was taken to deuce through eight games of set two, but Bautista Agut saved two break points en route to a 5-4 lead.  Isner, in turn, saved a set point when serving at 5-6, and a second tie break arrived.

Bautista Agut jumped out to a 3-0 advantage, winning both points on Isner’s opening serves.  The defending champion claimed both of those mini breaks back and the pair remained on serve through to 6-5, Isner with match point and Bautista Agut at the line.  The Spaniard hit a forehand into the net and John Isner won 7-6(1) 7-6(5)

• Qualifier Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Borna Coric (11) 7-6(3) 6-2

Miami - Day 8 WTA final four decided

Day Eight schedule in the Miami Open - the first ATP quarter finals and last of the WTA quarter finals.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - a WTA Premier Mandatory category tournament, on Hard Laykold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Sloane Stephens (13) who defeated Jelena Ostapenko (6) 7-6(5) 6-1

WTA quarter finals 

• Qiang Wang (18) v Simona Halep (2)

The two had met once before, in Indian Wells last year, where Halep won in straight sets.

Today Wang served first, and after several good rallies a Halep down the line backhand winner achieved a break of serve.  Wang immediately broke back, thanks largely to Halep errors.

A third successive break was consolidated by Halep whose forehand troubled Wang 3-1.

From 40-0, Wang lost three points, including double faulting for deuce.  Halep ended up breaking for the third time, and led 4-1.

A fifth break in six games occurred as Halep donated a second loose game to Wang.  Wang then held serve for the first time, surviving deuce, and forcing Halep wide and into error.

At 3-5, Wang hit a pair of winning backhands to reach 40-0, but lapsed to deuce, Halep herself producing a backhand winner.

Serve was eventually held, but Wang unable to prevent the second seed from serving out the set 6-4.

Wang had game point in the opening to set two, but Halep continued her pressure and broke the serve of the 18th seed.

It was then Wang’s turn to shine.  After breaking back for 1-1, the Chinese number one held to love in consecutive service games, in between cracking open the Romanian serve once more.  4-1 became 5-1, a Halep double fault delivering a third straight break of serve, and Wang had won 12 points in a row.

Serving for the set, Wang came up against Halep resistance with attacking tennis paying off for the second seed.

In fact Wang fell away completely, failing a second time to serve out the set, and leaving her opponent to finish off the match with the final six games.

Simona Halep won 6-4 7-5, and with a semi final win would regain the world #1 ranking.

• Karolina Pliskova (5) defeated Marketa Vondrousova 6-3 6-4

Semi final match ups 

Anett Kontaveit (21) v Ash Barty (12)

Karolina Pliskova (5) v Simona Halep (2)

Miami - Day 7 Barty into top 10

Day Seven schedule in the Miami Open - the first WTA quarter finals and ATP round of sixteen.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - a WTA Premier Mandatory category tournament, on Hard Laykold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Sloane Stephens (13) who defeated Jelena Ostapenko (6) 7-6(5) 6-1

WTA quarter finals 

• Petra Kvitová (3) v Ash Barty (12)

The pair had met on four occasions, twice this year in Australia alone.  Kvitová won each time.

This match was hampered by rain delays, the first a minor one after service holds and 1-1 in the opening set, then an almost two hour wait until they returned with Kvitová serving at 1-2.

Kvitová was quick to level then break the Australian serve and lead 3-2, but Barty, with backhand slice and overall pace of shot, broke back immediately and the match came alive.

Remaining on serve, Barty produced the first set point with Kvitová at the line and 5-6.  It was dismissed and a tie break resulted.

Kvitová careered away to a 4-1 advantage, taking both points off Barty’s second and third serves.

Barty claimed one of the mini breaks back and trailed 2-5.  Three successive points later the set was up for grabs once more.  Kvitová had set point at 6-5 but it disappeared.  Barty had her second set point at 7-6 and converted.  7-6(6) for the 12th seed.

Set two saw a predictable response from Kvitová, who cut down her number of unforced errors and used her powerful forehand to greater benefit.  The early break for 3-0 was nullified by Barty in the fifth game but it was only a temporary respite as this was Kvitová’s stage on which to perform.  The set was won 6-3.

The decider saw Barty back in front, and Kvitová beginning to fade.  The scoreline rolled over in the first six games exactly as it had in set two, but this time for the Australian.  After breaking the Czech serve for 4-2, nothing would stop Ash Barty, and her 7-6(6) 3-6 6-2 victory was a major breakthrough.

The first semi final appearance at a Premier Mandatory tournament.

The first victory over Petra Kvitová 

A move up in the world rankings to a career high of #9

• Anett Kontaveit (21) defeated Su-Wei Hsieh (27) 3-6 6-2 7-5

Miami - Day 7 Djokovic gone in round of 16

It’s Day Seven in the Miami Open - the first WTA quarter finals and the ATP round of sixteen.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Hard Layklold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

John Isner (14) who defeated Alexander Zverev (4) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-

ATP round of sixteen

• Borna Coric (11) v Nick Kyrgios (27)

The pair had met three times previously, twice in 2016 with results split.

Kyrgios won their August 2018 contest in the Cincinnati Masters, in three sets.

Coric served first, and an ace and backhand volley assisted him to 1-0.  Kyrgios opened with two aces to level at 1-1, and he was at the line again quickly following a love game from Coric, complete with forehand winner.

After comfortable holds of serve, it was surprising to see an exchange of breaks in games four and five.  In the process of breaking back, Kyrgios contributed a shot from heaven.  Coric had hit a terrific defensive backhand volley which no one should have been able to chase down, but Kyrgios did, and hit an impossible shot between his legs which turned into a forehand cross court winner. 

The Australian called for treatment on his knee, so that was concerning.  Nevertheless, things were back on track and 4-4 achieved without any further damage to either serve.

A double fault and errant forehand from Coric presented Kyrgios with two break points.  A rare backhand mistake and Kyrgios would serve for the set.  He began with a double fault, but an ace and an excellent volley enabled set points to arrive.  The second of these was used and the set was won 6-4.

For five games of set two, the pair were solid on serve, and Kyrgios was looking to level at 3-3, leading 40-15.  However Coric lifted, and with some great passing shots, put Kyrgios under pressure, the Australian dropping serve.  Coric proceeded to win the set 6-3.

From 2-2 in the decider, Coric dominated, although Kyrgios had three break back points to level at 3-3.  He failed to take advantage and failed to win another game.

Borna Coric won 4-6 6-3 6-2.

• John Isner (7) defeated Kyle Edmund (19) 7-6(5) 7-6(3)
• Qualifier Félix Auger-Aliassime defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili (17) 7-6(4) 6-4
• Roberto Bautista Agut (22) defeated Novak Djokovic (1) 1-6 7-5 6-3
• Kevin Anderson (6) defeated Jordan Thompson 7-5 7-5
• Frances Tiafoe (28) defeated David Goffin (18) 7-5 7-6(6)
• Denis Shapovalov (20) defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) 4-6 6-3 7-6(3)
• The Daniil Medvedev (13) v Roger Federer (4) match was postponed until Day Eight.

Miami - Day 6 WTA quarters set

Day Six schedule in the Miami Open - WTA round of sixteen and completion of ATP round three matches.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - a WTA Premier Mandatory category tournament, on Hard Laykold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Sloane Stephens (13) who defeated Jelena Ostapenko (6) 7-6(5) 6-1

WTA round of sixteen 

• Su-Wei Hsieh (27) v Caroline Wozniacki (13)

Wozniacki served first and held easily.  The love game from Hsieh featured a backhand from the clouds to finish things.

Wozniacki faced a break point in game three after Hsieh hit a winner at the net. It was converted when a Danish forehand drifted wide.

It was even, once Hsieh was broken back immediately, five unexpected unforced errors off her racquet.

In the seventh game, when leading 40-0, Wozniacki fell victim to the wicked variety of Hsieh, especially the multi directed forehand. 4-3.

Back at the line, the former world #1 trailed 3-5 and needed to hold serve to stay in the opening set.

Wozniacki saved three set points before surrendering a forehand into the net.  Hsieh led 6-3.

The opening game of set two saw Wozniacki attacking, a volley winner taking the first point and setting the trend.  Only one of the two break points was required, and the break was held through to the fifth game.

At 3-2, after wasting two opportunities for a double break, Wozniacki was outsmarted with a perfect lob, then double faulted.  A stray backhand produced two break points,  and a tremendous backhand winner from Hsieh confirmed a 3-3 scoreline.

A tie break resulted following a series of service holds, and Su-Wei must have disappeared for this section of the match.  Seven straight points for Wozniacki in a brilliant stanza, finished off with a backhand winner.

7-6(0) and a decider required.

Hsieh regrouped in the best possible way, winning 14 of the first 16 points in set three, which included two breaks of the Wozniacki serve.

Su-Wei Hsieh didn’t face a break point and proceeded to victory 6-3 6-7(0) 6-2.

• Ash Barty (12) defeated Kiki Bertens (7) 4-6 6-3 6-2 
• Anett Kontaveit (21) defeated Bianca Andreescu 6-1 2-0 (retired)
• Petra Kvitová (3) defeated Caroline Garcia (19) 6-3 6-3
• Qiang Wang (18) defeated Yafan Wang 7-5 6-4
• Simona Halep (2) defeated Venus Williams 6-3 6-3
• Marketa Vondrousova defeated Tatjana Maria 6-4 6-3
• Karolina Pliskova (5) defeated Yulia Putintseva 2-6 6-3 7-5

Quarter final match ups 

Su-Wei Hsieh (27) v Anett Kontaveit (21)

Petra Kvitová (3) v Ash Barty (12)

Karolina Pliskova (5) v Marketa Vondrousova 

Qiang Wang (18) v Simona Halep (2)

Miami - Day 6 ATP round of 16 set

It’s Day Six in the Miami Open - WTA round of sixteen and completion of ATP round three matches.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Hard Layklold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

John Isner (14) who defeated Alexander Zverev (4) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-

ATP third round 

• Filip Krajinovic v Roger Federer (4)

Federer had been soundly tested in his previous match against Radu Albot, and in the first set against Krajinovic things were looking just as competitive, with the Serb contesting from the baseline.

A break apiece, and 5-5 in the opening set, Federer must have been ruing his other wasted chances, especially when Krajinovic had break point for a 6-5 lead.

Federer, as he is used to doing, saved the day, and cleaned up in the following game to take the set, a forehand cross court winner sealing the deal 7-5.

With the momentum, the Swiss number one needed just one more crack at the Krajinovic serve, and he crossed that task off his to do list early in set two.  The rest of the match became a display of serving, Federer’s in particular.  For the set he lost just three points on his first serve, and two on the second, not that he needed to deliver a second one often.

Krajinovic played an ok match, but ultimately was no match.

This was the best tennis offered by Federer in the tournament so far.  He won 7-5 6-3.

• Kevin Anderson (6) v João Sousa 

Anderson hadn’t played since the Australian Open, where he lost in the second round.  Since then he had been plagued by an elbow injury.

He had met Sousa once before, on clay in Nice in 2016, and lost that one.

However his time in Miami has been successful, and in a match where serving was of a high standard, Anderson was never broken against Sousa.

In the opening set, the South African won 75% of points on his serve, and managed to break the Portuguese serve once, enough to take the set 6-4.

Set two was even more of a fight, going all the way to a tie break, but in the end Anderson won it and the match 6-4 7-6(6)

• Jordan Thompson defeated Grigor Dimitrov (24) 7-5 7-5
• Daniil Medvedev (13) defeated qualifier Reilly Opelka 7-6(5) 6-7(5) 7-6(0)
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) defeated Leonardo Mayer 6-4 6-4
• Denis Shapovalov (20) defeated qualifier Andrey Rublev 6-3 7-6(5)
• David Goffin (18) defeated Marco Cecchinato (14) 6-4 6-4
• Frances Tiafoe (28) defeated wildcard David Ferrer 5-7 6-3 6-3

Round of sixteen match ups 

Novak Djokovic (1) v Roberto Bautista Agut (22)

Kyle Edmund (19) v John Isner (7)

Qualifier Felix Auger-Aliassime v Nikoloz Basilashvili (17)

Borna Coric (11) v Nick Kyrgios (27)

Kevin Anderson (6) v Jordan Thompson 

Daniil Medvedev (13) v Roger Federer (4)

Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Denis Shapovalov (20)

David Goffin (18) v Frances Tiafoe (28)

Miami - Day 5 ATP third round start

It’s Day Five in the Miami Open - round three matches in the ATP and WTA draws.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Hard Layklold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

John Isner (14) who defeated Alexander Zverev (4) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-

ATP third round 

• Albert Ramos-Vinolas v John Isner (7)

The pair had met twice before, each time on clay.  The matches both went the distance, five of the six sets decided in tie breaks.

Isner won the Rome Masters clash in 2017, but was beaten last year in the same tournament.

Defending champion Isner served first, and after a couple of errors, he was down 15-30.  Worse still following a Spanish forehand pass.  Two break points. Another American mistake and Ramos-Vinolas led 1-0.

From 30-0, the Spaniard slipped to facing a break point.  It vanished and serve was held.  2-0.

Isner registered on the scoreboard with a typical game, aces to start and end.  Errors from Ramos-Vinolas gave Isner two break back chances, and he cashed in on the second of these with a forehand winner.  2-2.

A service winner dismissed a break chance, and Isner was ahead 3-2.

Games went to serve and Ramos-Vinolas was required to continue the trend at 4-5 to stay in the set.  Although taken to deuce, serve was held and the set rolled on.

At 5-6, a pair of Ramos-Vinolas errors and an Isner backhand down the line screamer produced two set points.  A Spanish backhand into the net and Isner won the set 7-5.

In set two, the opening games were comfortably taken by the server.  It became more difficult in game four where Ramos-Vinolas had to negotiate a trip to deuce. Even more on the precipice was Isner in the following game.

The American double faulted and faced two break points.  An ace saved one.  A kicker saved the second.  A third break chance was dismissed with a forehand winner.  Serve was held, an ace sealing the game and Isner led 3-2.

With no more break point interruptions, a tie break eventuated.  

Points were on serve until Isner hit a backhand down the line to take a 4-2 lead.  At 5-3 with a serve to come, victory seemed close for the American, but he stuffed up a straight forward forehand and Ramos-Vinolas won that point and the next two to have a set point at 6-5.

Isner steadied with an ace, and a service winner brought him to 7-6 and his first match point, but on the Spanish serve.

Ramos-Vinolas hit the net with a forehand and John Isner was triumphant 7-5 7-6(6).

• Roberto Bautista Agut (22) defeated Fabio Fognini (15) 6-4 6-4
• Kyle Edmund (19) defeated Milos Raonic (12) 6-4 6-4
• Nikoloz Basilashvili (17) defeated Robin Haase 7-6(3) 6-3
• Qualifier Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(5) 6-4
• Novak Djokovic (1) defeated Federico Delbonis 7-5 4-6 6-1
• Nick Kyrgios (27) defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-3 6-1
• Borna Coric (11) defeated Jérémy Chardy 6-7(2) 6-2 6-3

Miami - Day 5 Tatjana upsets defending champ

Day Five schedule in the Miami Open - round three matches in the ATP and WTA draws.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - a WTA Premier Mandatory category tournament, on Hard Laykold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Sloane Stephens (13) who defeated Jelena Ostapenko (6) 7-6(5) 6-1

WTA third round

• Yafan Wang v Danielle Collins (25)

Yafan Wang, fresh from her upset win over Svitolina, was ready for another challenge, this time against home nation favourite Collins, who made the semi finals here last year after winning through qualifying.

The American served first and after surviving deuce held on.  Her opponent didn’t drop a point in levelling at 1-1.  Collins couldn’t contain the pressure of Wang’s tennis and was broken in game three.

Angry at her start, Collins replaced her approach with a better mix of selective aggression and a reliable defence, enabling her to trouble Wang.  It reflected on the scoreboard with three successive games and a 4-2 advantage.  Wang stopped the rot though, with the fourth service break in five games, converting the second of two break points when the Collins backhand failed.

Collins, at 5-5, introduced a number of errors, which sparked Wang into positive mode, and on the third break point, Collins finally relented, this time her forehand the offender.

Serving for the set, a love game was just the tonic for Wang and she led 7-5.

Collins held serve in the opening game of set two, but thereafter went missing.  Wang won the next six games amid a sea of American errors, many forced by the impressive all court game brought by the Chinese player.

Yafan Wang won 7-5 6-1.

• Serena Williams (10) handed a walkover to Qiang Wang (18)
• Yulia Putintseva defeated Anastasija Sevastova (11) 1-6 6-2 6-3
• Simona Halep (2) defeated Polona Hercog 5-7 7-6(1) 6-2
• Venus Williams defeated Dasha Kasatkina (14) 6-3 6-1
• Marketa Vondrousova defeated Elise Mertens (16) 6-4 7-6(1)
• Karolina Pliskova (5) defeated Alizé Cornet 6-7(3) 6-1 6-4
• Tatjana Maria defeated defending champion Sloane Stephens (4) 6-3 6-2

Round of sixteen match ups 

Su-Wei Hsieh (27) v Caroline Wozniacki (13)

Anett Kontaveit (21) v Bianca Andreescu 

Petra Kvitova (3) v Caroline Garcia (19)

Ash Barty (12) v Kiki Bertens (7)

Karolina Pliskova (5) v Yulia Putintseva 

Marketa Vondrousova v Tatjana Maria 

Yafan Wang v Qiang Wang (18)

Venus Williams v Simona Halep (2)

Miami - Day 4 Su-Wei ousts #1 Osaka

Day Four schedule in the Miami Open - round two matches in the ATP draw and round three matches in the WTA draw.

Miami Open presented by Itaú - a WTA Premier Mandatory category tournament, on Hard Laykold, in Miami, Florida, USA, 20-31 March 2019.

Defending champion:

Sloane Stephens (13) who defeated Jelena Ostapenko (6) 7-6(5) 6-1

WTA third round

• Petra Kvitová v Donna Vekic (26)

Before start of the third round, Kvitová was one of four women who mathematically could take the number one ranking after the tournament.  Donna Vekic, who had risen to a career high of #25, had played Kvitová twice prior to this match - once way back in 2014 in Miami Open.  Kvitová prevailed there, but of more relevance was the pairs meeting earlier this year in St Petersburg, Vekic winning that quarter final.

Kvitová served first, and three loose shots followed an opening forehand winner.  Another one confirmed a service break.  Vekic wasted two game points, served two double faults, and Kvitová used the second of two break points to level at 1-1.

Kvitová quickly consolidated the break to lead 2-1, forehand winners to start and end the game.

Then three lengthy games - Vekic saved six break points to make it 2-2.  Kvitová saved five break points to lead 3-2.  Finally, Vekic saved three more to reach 3-3.

A love game and Kvitová led 4-3.

The players exchanged service breaks which left Vekic at the line 4-5, needing to hold to stay in the set.

Kvitová broke to love, three forehand winners included, one to clinch the set 6-4

Vekic rebounded, breaking Kvitová to love in the opening game of set two, then saving two break points to lead 2-0.

A further drop of the Czech delivery drove the momentum even further for Vekic, who was punishing the Kvitová second serve, but things stalled somewhat in game four.

More aggression assisted the third seed to retrieve one of the breaks.

The next four games were with serve, and Kvitová at 3-5 was under pressure.

Following a Vekic backhand pass and Kvitová double fault there was recovery to 30-30, but only temporary.  A Czech forehand sailed long and set point appeared.  It disappeared with a quality serve.  Addressing a second set point, a clean winner did the trick.  Vekic hit a forehand winner to create a third set point, and a backhand sizzler, the sets were level.  6-3 Vekic.

After nine breaks of serve in sets one and two, it was no real surprise to see the opening game of the decider go against Vekic when at the line.  

Two unforced errors and two Kvitová winners put the Czech star ahead.

While no further breaks occurred in the following eight games, both players were taken to deuce twice, and Kvitová had to save a break point in the fourth game.

All up, Kvitová was serving for the match at 5-4.

Aggressive, pinpoint tennis brought Kvitová to three match points, 40-0 reached thanks to a backhand cross court winner.  Vekic saved one with a down the line forehand, but she failed with the next forehand and Petra Kvitová won a terrific match 6-4 3-6 6-4.

• Caroline Garcia (19) defeated Julia Goerges (15) 6-0 7-5
• Ash Barty (12) defeated Samantha Stosur 6-0 6-3
• Su-Wei Hsieh (27) defeated Naomi Osaka (1) 4-6 7-6(4) 6-3
• Caroline Wozniacki (13) defeated qualifier Monica Niculescu 6-4 7-6(4)
• Kiki Bertens (7) defeated Viktoria Kuzmova 3-6 6-0 6-1
• Anett Kontaveit (21) defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6(3) 2-6 7-6(4)
• Bianca Andreescu defeated Angie Kerber (8) 6-4 4-6 6-1