MIAMI—On the Hard Rock Stadium's big stage and the cozy side courts, Su-Wei Hsieh is up to her old tricks.
The two-time Grand Slam doubles champion has used her mix-magic to make the current and former world No. 1 players disappear.
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The 33-year-old Hsieh scored her first career win in five meetings over former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, 6-3, 6-7 (0), 6-2, to advance to the Miami Open quarterfinals for the first time.
Hsieh backed up her 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 comeback win over world No. 1 Naomi Osaka in round three with a shrewd shifting of anlges.
Playing with an extended racquet the slender Hsieh played dazzling defense, covered the court fluidly and mixed the paces and spins of her well-disguised two-hand strokes shrewdly in bouncing two Grand Slam champions in succession.
Simona Halep, who has shot to regain the world No. 1 ranking with a finals run, says the "very talented" Hsieh plays covert tennis: She hides the ball from opponents.
"I don't know how to describe (her), honestly," Halep said. "She's very talented. I want to say that, because she hides the ball. I played at Wimbledon and was really, really tough, but, you know, she has it in her hands. So I cannot describe her game. It's really interesting."
Last July, Hsieh stormed back from 2-5 down in the final set and saved a match point shocking world No. 1 Halep, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, to charge into the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time in 10 career appearances.
The Roland Garros champion says Hsieh's style cannot be replicated.
"I think she feels it," Halep said. "It's not about learning. I think she just feels the ball, and it comes easy to her. If you put someone else to hit like that, I'm not sure that it's possible."
Photo credit: Lindsey Godwin/Miami Open