It’s another big week on the tennis circuit following on from the action at Indian Wells last week in California. It’s off to the other side of the country for the Miami Open on both the ATP and the WTA this week where all of the big guns are back out in actin in Florida, which starts on Wednesday.
Novak Djokovic claimed another title at Indian Wells and the world number one is looking for what would be his sixth Miami title as well. There doesn’t appear to be any slowing of the Serbian this year who is 22-1 for the season after his Indian Wells success. He has already won in Doha, at the Australian Open and now Indian Wells.
So it is on to the second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event to the season season as the Tour hits Miami and he is a short 4/7 price to go out and get the job done yet again after having won there for the last two years. Djokovic won six of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events last year and seems to keep going from strength to strength. He could be on course to meet Roger Federer in the semi finals, who is only back this week after surgery at the start of February.
Andy Murray steps out again this week in what has been a quiet season for him with his main appearance coming at the Australian Open. Murray lost in the third round of Indian Wells last week over three sets against World 53 Federico Delbonis. He goes on the opposite half of the draw to Djokovic with Rafa Nadal a potential semi final opponent there.
ATP Miami Open Betting Odds
Novak Djokovic 4/7, Andy Murray 13/2, Roger Federer 8/1, Rafael Nadal 16/1, Kei Nishikori 18/1, Stan Wawrinka 20/1, Milos Raonic 28/1, bar 40/1
The WTA got a little interesting on the weekend with Serena Williams missing out on that title at Indian Wells. That means, shockingly, that she remains without a title this season, even though she looks to be still right there on top of her game. It’s now back to back final defeats for Williams this season after going down against Victoria Azarenka in the Indian Wells showcase.
Williams was beaten in the final of the Australian Open by a stunning performance from Germany’s Angelique Kerber, but given the relationship that Williams has had with Indian Wells and having been in her first final there for fifteen years, it looked as if she let the occasion get to her against Azarenka. But losses are losses and she needs to find a way to hit back. She is an eight time champion in Miami, so she is likely to go close.
The last time that a player won in Indian Wells and Miami in the same season was Kim Clijsters back in 2005. So it’s not an easy task but the Belarusian has looked great on hard surfaces this year, although still she is temperamentally off key at times in her matches. Simona Halep seems to be gaining momentum having had to deal with injuries and illnesses this season which has seen her nowhere near her best. She looked much better at Indian Wells, but was stopped by Serena Williams in the quarters.
Australian Open Angelique Kerber is in the mix as well, but has been out of sorts since her win in Melbourne and is currently running on a three match losing streak. The German could collide with Karolina Pliskova who went to the semis of Indian Wells and the mighty serving skills of the Czech may be the one to back to go further in the tournament.
WTA Miami Open Betting Odds
Serena Williams 11/8, Victoria Azarenka 9/2, Simona Halep 12/1, Agnieszka Radwanska 12/1, Belinda Bencic 18/1, Angelique Kerber 20/1, Garbine Muguruza 25/1, Petra Kvitova 25/1, Karolina Pliskova 33/1, bar 50/1
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