In her latest column, Gigi Salmon greets the Indian Champions Wells Jack Draper and Mirra Andreeva, gives her predictions for Miami and reveals who won a team table tour …
A clash of applause began in the lower lobby of the hotel we were staying in, which grew and grew up to the house group in the process of setting the evening began to play ‘We are the champions’.
Jack Draper, the Indian Wells champion, had calmly made his way out of the elevator to join us on the table, where his team – James, Justin, Shane and Brother Ben – were with Tim Henman, Laura Robson and I.
Fans in Indian Wells know their tennis and were quick to see it. It was not long before Jack was fortunately by signing autographs and taking his photo while his team wasted and enjoyed success as they planned the journey the next morning to Miami.
This time a year ago Jack was not 43 in the world. He woke up on Monday morning while World No. 7 after winning his first title Masters 1000 in only his third tour of the year after he began the season coming out of an injury he received in the pre-season season.
As Jack told us immediately after the match “Being in this position is now beyond words”.
How Jack played all the Indian Wells, made those people who were not doing it already, sitting down and getting attention. Aspecto aspect of his game was causing the problem to his opponent: served, forward, back, movement.
The list of players he defeated was impressive: Joao Fonseca, Jenson Brooksby, World No. 4 Taylor Fritz, leftist friend Ben Shelton and Protective Champion Carlos Alcaraz
Then in the final he included Holger Rune aside for the loss of only four matches. Patrick Mineroe described him as a “party that comes out in the desert”.
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Highlights by Indian Wells while Draper defeated Holger Rune to win his first title of masters 1000 and no. No. 7 in the world order
People will say we are leaving, it’s still early, it’s just a master’s title, but I say let’s leave! Jack has worked hard on this and will continue to set time and effort. He has a great team around him and has shown in one of the largest stages in tennis that he can beat the best and support him.
Not many players will want to face draper
Miami is another and there may be a concession, do not be surprised if there is, but on the other hand the way he is feeling and plays, there will be not many players in the draw that will want to face him.
Like the sixth seed he has a Bye up to the second round, where he will face the winner of Roberto Bautista Agut and Jakub Menis. He is in the first quarter of the draw which is run by the high seed Alexander Zverev.
In all honesty it is not a bad draw, but much will depend on how it is mentally and physically withdrawn from profit in Indian wells.
Staying with the British and joining Jack directly in the main draw is Cam Norrie, who faces China’s Bu Yunchaokete in the first round with the winner to face Alex de Minaur in the second round. Jacob Fearnley and Billy Harris are in the last round of qualification.
Cameron Norrie will play in Miami this week
On the women’s side we have Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu as a direct entry, with both because of the game Wednesday. Katie has a harsh opening against American Stearns Peyton, while Emma will face the Japanese wild card Sayaka I was with the winner taking the eight Emma Navarro seed.
There was a disappointment for British women in qualifying with Sonay Cartal losing to America Taylor Townsend 7-5 in the third set, while Harriet Dart fell to Australian Kimberly Birrell in straight groups.
‘Sponge’ Andreeva Form Player in WTA Tour
Miami Open is another joint and mandatory 1000 event and the second part of ‘Sunshine Double’, a back-back pair that Draper and Mirra Andreeva are trying to achieve and one considered the most difficult in tennis.
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Mirra Andreeva fought again by a group to defeat the world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and claims the Indian Wells title
There may be up to eight hours of travel for players between Palm Springs and Miami, during which they spend three time zones and then contrast between the desert climate in southern California and the brutal heat of Southern Florida At-Time. They will also discover that the courts are softer and play faster.
This is a lot for anyone to get inside and fit, but you think 17-year-old Andreeva, who has just won the WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, will be okay as she is a sponge, absorbs information, makes adjustments and is the form player this year for WTA.
Andreeva has confidence and confidence in the buckets and I like the fact that she thanks herself when she wins great victories – “Last but not least that I would like to thank herself for the war to the end and always trusting me.”
The sky really is the border for Andreeva, who finds himself in a high career No. 8 in the standings. With a Bye up to the second round, the first seed you can face is the winner of Doha 1000 Amanda Animova.
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Andreeva thanked herself after defeating Sabalenka in California
Swiatek hits again to critics for her behavior
It is worth, if you have time, taking a look at a recent post on social media by IgA Swiatek, which with its very high standards has had a disappointing start of the season without any title from four played tours-most people would be happy with a return of the three semifinals and a quarterfinal!
In the Swiatte post says “it is time for me to share my perspective to stop speculation and unfounded theories” because of the latest conversations she has seen about her behavior and emotions in court.
It is a part of strong, passionate words, where it addresses its latest ban on a positive drug test, the impact it had on its rankings with lost shifts and as it was called by a robot people now say it is ‘immature and hysterical’ to show emotions.
Swiatik can open in Miami against former Top-10 Caroline Garcia player, with a boulter in her quarter of a draw.
Danielle Collins is defending the title of women after making a retirement, but it has been a difficult start for the year for the American and will have a new men’s champion with Jannik Sinner serving his suspension, though the Italian remains comfortable at the top with a 2,775 pillow in Zverev located in second place.
Who will win in Miami?
Unfortunately there was no time to make the ‘Bump and Grind Trail’ in Indian Wells but there was a Table Table Tour of the Last night.
My contribution was minimal and did not help as I continued to laugh while taking it very seriously and continued overnight with a series of answers the next day who won.
But it was apparently the camera department that triumphed over the sound and production department. Saying this, it was the camera boys who told me it!
Salmon Gigi and tennis team Sky Sports posing in Indian Wells
In terms of forecasts, I left at a predictable 0/2 start on Indian Wells and while I am not very original I would roll those names in Miami.
Alcaraz was surprised and injured by his loss to Draper in Indian Wells saying, “I think I usually learn with the losses I have. I will take it with his word.
And for Aryna Sabalenka, World No. 1 and a quarter -finalist twice in Southern Florida, the fire is burning and hunger is there. I think that even though she can face Coco Gauff or last year’s finalist Elena Rybakina along the way she will come!
I’m flying home for a few days back to school run before going to Miami at the end of the week, where I look forward to working with my, Martina Navratilova and Marion Bartoli.
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