In her latest column, Gigi Salmon salutes Indian Wells champions Jack Draper and Mira Andreva, making predictions for Miami and reveal who won the Team Table Tennis Tournament…
A ripple of applause began in the lower lobby of the hotel where we were staying. This grew and grew until the house bands in the process of setting up in the evening began playing “We Are The Champions.”
Indian Wells champion Jack Draper quietly left the lift and joined the table. His team – James, Justin, Shane and brothers Ben were with Tim Henman, Laura Robson and me.
Indian Wells fans knew about tennis and quickly found him. It wasn’t long before Jack was happy to sign the autograph session and he enjoyed his photos while he enjoyed the success as his team had digested and planned a trip to Miami the following morning.
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Draper feels “incredible” to secure his first ATP 1000 Master title
This time, a year ago, Jack was 43 years old worldwide. He woke up on Monday morning, so World No 7 won his first Masters 1000 title in his third Tournament of the Year after starting a season in which he began his pre-season injury.
Just as Jack said immediately after the match, “Being in this position is beyond words.”
I sat down and realized how Jack played for the Indian Wells as a whole, people who haven’t done it yet. Every aspect of his game caused trouble for his opponents: serve, forehand, backhand, movement.
The list of players he defeated was impressive: Joao Fonseca, Jenson Brooksby, World No 4 Taylor Fritz, Fellow Leftie Ben Shelton and two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz
He then pushed Holga Rune aside in the finals for losing just four games. Patrick McEnroe described it as “a party coming out in the desert.”
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Highlights from the Indian Wells when Draper defeated Holga Rune to win his first Master 1000 titles and rose to No. 7 in the world rankings
People will say we’re crazy, it’s still too early, it’s only one Masters title, but I say I’m crazy! Jack is working hard for this and continues to put in the time and effort. He has a great team around him and shows that in one of the biggest stages of tennis he can beat the best stage and back it up.
Not many players want to face a draper
Miami could then be disappointed. Don’t be surprised if you’re not surprised. On the other hand, there are not too many players who want to face him in the way he feels and plays.
As the sixth seed, he has goodbye to the second round, where he faces the winners of Roberto Bautista Agutt and Jakub Mensik. He is in the top quarter of the draw led by top seed Alexander Zverev.
Honestly, it doesn’t look bad, but much depends on how he lifts himself mentally and physically from his victory in the Indian well.
It’s Cam Nolly, who will be with the British and will have Jack join him in the main draw directly in the first round against China’s Byokette. Jacob Fianley and Billy Harris will be in the final round of qualifying.
Image: Cameron Norry plays in Miami this week
On the women’s side, Katie Boulter and Emma Radukanu are both scheduled to play on Wednesday as in person participants. Katie has a tough opener against American Payton Stearns, but Emma will face Japanese wild card Sayaka Ishii, with the winner taking eighth seed Emma Navarro.
The British woman was disappointed in the qualifying round when Sonay Cartal lost to American Taylor Townsend 7-5 in the third set, and Harriet Dirt fell on a straight set to Australia’s Kimberly Billrell.
“Sponge” Andreeva Form Player on WTA Tour
The Miami Open is a separate joint and a mandatory 1,000 event, and is the second part of “Sunshine Double.”
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Mira Andreva fought back from the set to win the Indian Wells title by defeating World No Arena Sabalenka
There is a maximum of 8 hours of trip for players between Palm Springs and Miami, over three time zones in between, with a contrast between Southern California’s desert climate and the brutal heat and humidity of South Florida. They will also discover that the courts are playing smoother and faster.
That’s a lot for everyone, but 17-year-old Andreva, who just won consecutive WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, feels that it’s okay as she’s absorbed the information, made adjustments and is a form player for this year’s WTA tour.
Andreva has confidence and belief in the load of the bucket. I like the fact that she is grateful to her when she gets a big victory – “It’s the end, but I want to fight to the end and thank you for always believing in me.”
The sky is truly a limit for Andreva. Andreva finds himself at number 8 in the rankings for his career. Bye in Round 2, the first species she faced was Amanda Animova, the winner of the Doha 1000.
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Andreva thanked herself after beating Sabalenka in California
Swiatek has returned to critics for her actions
If you have time, take a look at a recent social media post from Iga Swiatek, and while by her very high standards, she had an annoying start to the season without four tournament titles, most people are pleased with her return to the three semifinals and quarterfinals!
In the Swiatek post, he says, “It’s time to share my perspective to stop speculation and unfounded theory.”
It’s a strong, passionate work that addresses the recent ban on positive drug testing, the impact that was on rankings in missed tournaments, and the fact that she is called a robot in court, she says she is “immature and hysterical” to show emotion, and that she is a strong-word, passionate piece of work that she tackles the recent ban on positive drug testing.
Swiatek was able to open against former top 10 player Caroline Garcia in Miami, making Boulter a draw quarter.
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Daniel Collins defends the women’s title after making a U-turn on retirement, but for Americans it was a tough start to the year. There will be a new men’s champion with Janik Thinner providing suspension.
Who will win in Miami?
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to do the “Bump and Grind Trail” at Indian Wells, but the final night had an enthusiastic table tennis tournament.
My input was minimal, taken very seriously and lasted long into the night with various answers about who won, so I couldn’t help as I kept laughing.
But clearly it was the camera division that won over the sound and production division. It was the guys on the camera who said that and told me that!
Image: Gigi Salmon and Sky Sports Tennis Team Posing at Indian Wells
As for prediction, I went down to a predictable 0/2 start in Indian wells, but although not very original, I’ll roll up those names to Miami.
Alkaraz was shocked and hurt by his defeat to the Draper at Indian Wells. I will take him with his words.
And for Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and two quarterfinalist in South Florida, the fire is burning and there is hunger. Even if she could face Coco Gough and last year’s finalist Elena Ribakina, I think she could have fought along the way she was coming!
I look forward to working with Tim, Martina Navratilova and Marion Bartoli after I got home a few days ago on my school run and then headed to Miami at the end of the week.
You can focus on the action in Sky Sports Tennis. Our coverage begins on Tuesday at 3pm.
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