By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday March 19, 2024
Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz will bid for the coveted Sunshine Doubles as play kicks off in Miami this week.
Photo Source: Getty
The second half of tennis’ fabled Sunshine Double is already underway, with main draw play commencing for the women on Tuesday. Before we dive head first into the action let’s look at 9 key storylines that are shaping up on the women’s side.
1. Halep’s return
She’s back! Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep makes her long awaited return to tennis after her appeal from a doping suspension was accepted earlier this month. The Romanian takes to the court for the first time since the 2022 US Open – she is a two-time semifinalist at Miami.
All eyes will be on Halep’s form when she takes the court against Paula Badosa on Tuesday night.
2. Alcaraz for the Double?
Carlos Alcaraz got his mojo back by completing a title defense at Indian Wells, where he defeated his rival Jannik Sinner in the semis then raced past Daniil Medvedev in the final for the second time in as many years.
2022 champion Alcaraz has historically been stellar at Miami, just as he has been at Indian Wells. The 20-year-old won 11 of 12 matches at Miami since 2022. Alcaraz could face No.32-seeded Borna Coric or Gael Monfils in the third round, and American Ben Shelton, the No. 16 seed, could be lurking in the round of 16.
3. Sabalenka Tragedy Hits Home
Hearts go out to world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka. News of the death of her boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov broke on Monday, and she has yet to be removed from the women’s singles draw in Miami. More important than tennis, we just hope Aryna is getting the support she needs, and taking time to process and be with loved ones.
4. Sinner Rebound?
Jannik Sinner fell to Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells, which marked the end of his career-best 19-match winning streak. Is it time for the 22-year-old Italian to start another run? The No.2 seed is in Daniil Medvedev’s half of the draw at Miami. His potential round of 16 opponent – if the seeds hold – would be 13th-seeded Tommy Paul. Sinner's quarterfinal opponent projects as No.5-seeded Andrey Rublev.
5. Moms Making A Push
Indian Wells saw strong performances from Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka, and the trio will be back on the comeback trail this week (along with three other moms: Taylor Townsend, Elina Svitolina and Tatjana Maria).
Osaka faces Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto and if she gets past her she’ll be looking at an all-mom clash with Svitolina, the No. 15 seed, in the second round.
Wozniacki is currently in action – and leading by a set – against Clara Burel, and would face No. 32-seeded Anhelina Kalinina next. Kerber, who fell to Wozniacki in the round of 16 at Indian Wells after notching wins over Petra Martic, Jelena Ostapenko and Veronika Kudermetova, will face Sloane Stephens in a tricky round one encounter.
6. Murray vs Berrettini Round 1!
Matteo Berrettini returned to the court last week at the Phoenix Challenger, where the Italian reached the final in his first competitive event since the 2023 US Open. In the Miami draw on his protected ranking, Berrettini has drawn two-time Miami Open champion Andy Murray in the first round. Get your popcorn ready!
7. Iga Double Double?
Iga Swiatek is the last player to successfully complete the Sunshine Double, in 2022. The Pole, who rummaged through the BNP Paribas Open draw, dropping just 21 games in the process (fewest since 1994), will look to ride the hot hand to her 20th career title.
Swiatek can become only the fourth female or male player to achieve the Sunshine Double on multiple occasions along with Steffi Graf, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. If she doubles up, Swiatek would be the youngest of the four to achieve the feat at 22 years and 304 days.
The World No.1 could face Linda Noskova, a familiar foe, in the third round, after a second-round clash with either compatriot Magdalena Frech or Camila Giorgi. Swiatek’s projected opponents – if seeds hold – from the Round of 16 on are:
R16: Alexandrova or Pavlyuchenkova
QF: Pegula
SF: Gauff
F: Sabalenka or Rybakina
8. Last Shot for Collins and Muzzah
Two players that have announced plans to retire by the end of this season will appear in the Miami draw for the last time – Danielle Collins and Andy Murray.
Murray opens with Matteo Berrettini, while Collins faces American Lucky Loser Bernarda Pera.
9. Where’s Luca Nardi?
We won’t be seeing Italy’s Luca Nardi, the man who became the lowest-ranked player to ever defeat Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam or Masters 1000 draw at Indian Wells.
20-year-old Nardi, who makes his Top 100 debut at No.96 this week, was defeated by Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic in the first round of qualifying, 6-4, 6-2.