Ons Jabeur Believes Title Favorite Swiatek Is ‘Beatable’ At WTA Finals - UBITENNIS
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Ons Jabeur Believes Title Favorite Swiatek Is ‘Beatable’ At WTA Finals

The world No.2 is bidding to claim the biggest trophy of her career this week at the Dickies Stadium in Fort Worth.

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Ons Jabeur (TUN) playing against Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) in the quarter-final of the Ladies' Singles on Centre Court at The Championships 2021. Held at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon. Day 8 Tuesday 06/07/2021. Credit: AELTC/Florian Eisele

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur says she is focusing on her own game ahead of what will be a historic appearance at the WTA Finals in Texas. 

 

The 28-year-old is the first Arab player in history to have qualified for the prestigious end-of-season event which this year has a prize money pool of $5M and up to 1500 ranking points on offer. Jabeur has earned her place in the tournament following what has been a breakthrough season for her. She won her first WTA 1000 title in Madrid before triumphing at the German Open a couple of months later. In the Grand Slams, she was runner-up at both Wimbledon and the US Open.

“It felt like a great reward for me, just to hear all of that; especially the first Arab, the only this, the first that… that’s really amazing and hopefully we’ll get to do more. It definitely encourages me to do better in the future,” Jabeur told The National about qualifying for the WTA Finals. 

Jabeur is seeded second in the tournament behind the formidable Iga Swiatek who has won more matches than any other player this year on the Women’s Tour. The Pole has recorded 64 wins in 2022 which is 18 more than Jabeur who is second on the list. She has already won eight tournaments this season. 

Despite Swiatek’s success, her Tunisian rival believes the world No.1 isn’t untouchable and can be beaten this week. Jabeur has defeated Swiatek twice on the Tour last year but trails their overall head-to-head 2-3.

“I prefer to focus on myself and improve things in myself. Because in stressful moments, what really helps and what really works is your game and how you can impose your game and if you can maintain that certain level, you can beat anyone,” she explains. 
“I think that will be my focus. But definitely Iga is on another level right now. It’s great for her, she’s pushing us to do better as players behind her. For me, the main thing is to really focus on myself.
“She is [beatable]. They did beat her before, the winning streak she had in the beginning of the year maybe not, but now, she lost a few matches recently, so anything is possible right now.”

As they have been drawn into opposite groups, the two players will only clash should they both progress to the knockout stages. Jabeur is in the same group as Jessica Pegula, Maria Sakkari and Aryna Sabalenka. Meanwhile, Swiatek faces Coco Gauff, Daria Kasatkina and Caroline Garcia. The top two players of each group will make it to the semi-finals. 

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Dusan Lajovic upsets Andy Murray to reach the second round at the Miami Open

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Dusan Lajovic upset two-time champion Andy Murray 6-4 7-5 in their first head-to-head match on the first day of the Miami Open to reach the second round at the Hard Rock Stadium. 

 

Lajovic won 72% of his second serve points and saved two of the three break points he faced. The Serbian player converted all three break points. 

Lajovic saved two break points in the fourth and sixth game before earning the first break of the match to love in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Lajovic held on his final two service games to win the first set 6-4. 

Lajovic earned his first break in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead, when Murray hit his forehand long. Lajovic was not able to serve out the match at 5-4, as Murray broke back to draw level to 5-5. After missing two match points from 40-0, Lajovic closed out the match, when Murray his his forehand into the net after a long rally in the 12th game. Lajovic has now a 8-5 record this season. 

Lajovic had won just four of 16 hard court since the start of 2022. 

“When I did not close it out, I thought it’s happening again. Honestly that last game I was super right at 40-0 and he was able to put pressure on me. Luckily he shanked the last forehand, which he normally doesn’t do”, said Lajovic. 

Lajovic ended his Sunshine Double campaign with a 2-2 record in Indian Wells and Miami. 

Lajovic set up a second round match against Maxime Cressy. 

“I don’t like playing against guys like him. They try to provoke you and put you under pressure on your service games. I will try to stay mentally stable”, said Lajovic. 

Last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals champion Brandon Nakashima edged past Oscar Otte 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 in 88 minutes. 

Nakashima hit a series of winners to win the tie-break 7-3 with two mini-breaks before earning the only break of serve in the sixth game of the second set. The US player did not face a break point en route to taking the win in his first head-to-head match against Otte. 

Nakashima set up a second round match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who won their only previous head-to-head match in straight-set at the Adelaide International 2. 

Japan’s Taro Daniel reached the second round after his French opponent Arthur Rinderknech retired when he went down 1-4 in the first set. Daniel beat Matteo Berrettini en route to the third round at Indian Wells last week. JJ Wolf beat Alexander Bublik 7-5 6-3.

The first set started with a trade of breaks. Bublik earned his second break in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead. Wolf broke straight back to draw level to 5-5, as Bublik was serving for the set. Wolf earned his third break in the 12th game to win the first set 7-5. Wolf won the second set 6-3 with his only break in the fourth game. 

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Bianca Andreescu battles past Emma Raducanu in Miami

The Canadian won her first-round match against a tough British opponent.

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BIANCA ANDREESCU OF CANADA - PHOTO: ALBERTO NEVADO / MMO

Bianca Andreescu is into the second round of the Miami Open after beating Emma Raducanu 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and 33 minutes on Stadium Court.

 

The Toronto native hit 33 winners and served seven aces in a match that went the distance. Andreescu saved 11 out of the 12 break points she faced and broke her rival three times en route to victory.

“You never know what you are going to expect and I wanted to come in today playing my best,” the former US Open champion said afterwards. ” With what I had I think I did that and Emma played amazing. She is an incredible player”.

Andreescu opened the match by breaking the London native in the first game and that break of serve was enough for her to serve out the first set quite comfortably.

The second set stayed on serve until 4-3 when Raducanu had multiple breakpoints and managed to break the Canadian on her seventh opportunity. She then served out the set to send the match into a deciding third set where the Toronto native bounced back and at 3-2 broke Raducanu once again to take the lead.

Andreescu broke serve once again while the Brit was serving to stay in the match to secure the win. After the match in her post-match on-court interview, she was asked what made her so dangerous today.

“I didn’t let my negative emotions get the best of me and I stayed positive,” she replied. “I was very energetic and I never gave up and that really key for me today”.

The Canadian will next face the number seven seed Maria Sakkari in the second round.

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Iga Swiatek pulls out of the Miami Open due to a rib injury

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Defending champion Iga Swiatek was forced to withdraw from the Miami Open ahead of the second round match due to a rib injury. 

 

Swiatek was expected to play against US player Claire Liu on Thursday after receiving a first-round bye. 

“You know that in and after Doha I was struggling with a strong infection. I was allowed to play, but a strong episode of tough cough led to a rib injury. We were trying to handle it and continue to play as long as it was safe for me. We were analyzing the data in the last days and my doctor prepared my diagnosis. Unfortunately, I am still feeling a lot of discomfort and pain and I can’t compete. It’s a truly call to not play in Miami, but health is the most important thing. I am grateful this is the first health issue in a long time and I was able in perfect shape for so long, but that’s sport. It happens sometimes, without our control. It’s time to accept it and get well as well as possible ”, said Swiatek. 

The injury bothered Swiatek during her semifinal match against eventual champion Elena Rybakina in Indian Wells. She revelead after her match against Rybakina that she had been struggling with a rib complaint following an infection. 

“I gave it all but Elena was a better player today. I am feeling discomfort and pain in my ribs and it was challenging for me to compete at my highest level. Now I just need to consult with my medical team and I will definitely use these next days to recover”, said Swiatek. 

She will also miss the Bille Jean King Cup Qualifier against Kazakhstan from 14-15 April in Astana. 

Last year Swiatek did not drop a set en route to winning the Miami Open. The Polish player became the fifth woman to complete the Sunshine Double of winning back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. Swiatek will be replaced by Austrian lucky loser Julia Grabher. 

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