WTA Miami: Barty, Halep, Kerber show how - the double lives!
The double tableau at the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Miami is prominently occupied. And even throws up prospects for the Olympics.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Mar 25, 2021, 10:58 am
The first surprise is provided by a look at the top line in the women's double tableau in Miami: After their triumph at the Australian Open, had Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka not announced that they wanted to devote themselves to their respective individual careers in the future? Well, maybe after the show in Florida, where Mertens / Sabalenka are going into the tournament as favorites. And find an interesting task at the beginning: namely the duo Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber , neither of whom are proven pair skating specialists.
Not much further down the grid, French Open winner Iga Swiatek has secured the double services of Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Sofia Kenin, on the other hand, who has already played successfully with Mattek-Sands, tries this time with Sloane Stephens. Also in the upper half of the table are world number one Ashleigh Barty and Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady .
Zverev also in doubles
And with regard to the 2021 Olympics, the field of participants in Miami could already provide a little information: Belinda Bencic forms a federal pairing with Jil Teichmann, Kiki Bertens and Arantxa Rus could also represent the Netherlands in Tokyo. And if the Williams siblings don't go hunting for gold again, then the two youngsters Cori Gauff and Cathy McNally could possibly have an Olympic prospect.
For men, however, there is only one man from the top ten at the start: Alexander Zverev , who tries his hand at Tim Pütz. Fabio Fognini (with Maximo Gonzalez) and Félix Auger-Aliassime (with Hubert Hurkacz) have also named from the extended world elite.