In her newest Sky Sports activities column, Gigi Salmon displays on Iga Swiatek’s success, the swarm of bees that took over Indian Wells and Simona Halep’s return forward of Miami Open…
I by no means thought I might be speaking a few bee invasion or rain suspending play on a number of events when it got here to speaking about Tennis Paradise (in any other case often known as Indian Wells; the primary joint 1000 occasion of the yr), however instances are altering!
Reigning supreme was a 22-year-old, who now holds eight WTA 1000 titles and 4 Grand Slam titles along with the No 1 rating; and a 20-year-old who efficiently defended his title which was his first since Wimbledon final summer time.
Swiatek continues to star
Let’s begin with Iga Swiatek, who solely misplaced 21 video games and not more than 4 in a set en path to her second Indian Wells title.
With all of the numbers which can be beginning to accumulate world wide No 1, maybe probably the most horrifying to her opponents at this degree is that she is now 70-0 when she has received the primary set in a WTA 1000 match.
When requested this week, Swiatek highlighted her strengths as depth, self-discipline and topspin – and all of these have been in play as she took aside Maria Sakkari for the lack of simply 4 video games.
After the ultimate was received, she spoke to us reside on Sky Sports activities Tennis after which started a spherical of media commitments culminating in a rooftop photograph alternative with Hollywood actor and mannequin Zendaya, who had been watching together with her Spiderman boyfriend Tom Holland. Different celebrities noticed within the desert included Rod Laver, Invoice Gates, Maria Sharapova, Monica Seles, Will Ferrell and Charlize Theron.
Whereas we had a 22-year-old successful the ladies’s title, a 20-year-old defended the boys’s title with Carlos Alcaraz discovering confidence and kind as he made his manner by means of the draw.
This was his first title since Wimbledon and a much-needed enhance for the Spaniard who had been coping with ankle bother within the lead-up to the match.
Alcaraz is barely the second man to have received a number of masters titles (5) earlier than the age of 21, the one different being Rafa Nadal with 9.
Would you bee-lieve it?
The hero of Indian Wells was beekeeper Lance Davis who was referred to as into motion when a swarm of bees took a liking to the Spidercam on Stadium 1 initially of the Carlos Alcaraz vs Sascha Zverev quarter-final.
The gamers made a pointy exit after which to the rescue got here Lance who barehandedly gathered up what he referred to as a ‘small’ swarm of bees (round 3,500), sucking them right into a ‘reside catch cage’.
By way of Sky workforce challenges, we needed to movie a hyperlink on a sand dune, however I needed to communicate shortly as I began sinking into the sand.
Then on finals day, we opened the present with Tim, Laura and I on the again of a golf buggy. We acquired in early to get it carried out, made certain that Tim wasn’t driving, had a close to miss with a pedestrian however that apart all of it went fairly easily!
Welcome to Miami
With Indian Wells coming to an finish, speak began shifting to Miami and the second a part of the sunshine swing, which begins this week and shall be reside on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
There will not be the chance for a seventh Miami title for world No 1 Novak Djokovic who has withdrawn from the match saying “at this stage of my professional career, I’m balancing my private and professional schedule”.
We additionally now know who Simona Halep shall be coming back from her suspension towards, drawn towards Paula Badosa who continues to be scuffling with again issues which pressured her to tug out of Indian Wells.
Talking of Halep’s return, her former coach and now coach to Jannik Sinner, Darren Cahill instructed Sky Sports activities Tennis: “It’s the highlight of my year and I’ve had a pretty good year so far with everything Jannik has done, 18 months of torture for her, I’ve always believed in her.”
The Miami attracts have been made, the whole lot is ready and the Indian Wells finalists like us shall be leaving the desert on Monday – however I am considering that their journey to the airport is likely to be a contact smoother.
Possibly this was my Sky Sports activities Tennis Problem for Indian Wells? Writing my column behind the automobile whereas Tim is in control of instructions and music (at present George Michael and Careless Whisper) whereas our Producer Adam swerves his manner throughout 5 lanes of the freeway!
All being effectively Tim and I shall be becoming a member of Annabel for Miami later this week!
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