WTA : WEEK TWELVE

WTA has reached the midway point at Miami, United States and there has been some interesting results along with rain ending play on Friday. Maria Sharapova came into the tournament trying to win for the first time in her career making the finals five time in the process. Now, Sharapova will have to try again in 2016 as she lost her first match to Daria Gavrilova in straight sets. Other than Serena Williams, that loss was the first time she lost before the finals since 2003. Flavia Pennetta won in two tiebreak sets over Victoria Azarenka making the fourth round for the first time in her career. Sabine Lisicki has continued her good form from Indian Wells defeating Ana Ivanovic in two tight sets.  Simona Halep, who is trying to be the first player to win Indian Wells and Miami since Kim Clijsters in 2005, won her first two matches despite playing tricky opponents in Nicole Vaidisova and Camila Giorgi.

 Player of the week is Sloane Stephens.  She is beginning to show why she was a semifinalist at 2013 Australian Open and made second week in Slams six consecutive times. She won easily over Yanina Wickmayer, had a statement win over Madison Keys, who made 2015 Australian Open semifinals, and Johanna Larsson, who had defeated Stephens in their first two meetings.

Honorable mention

(1)    Daria Gavrilova. She pulled off the upset of the tournament defeating Maria Sharapova in straight sets then made the fourth round consolidating her win over Kurumi Nara. The Russian, who is based in Melbourne, Australia, is in the process of getting Australian citizenship.  She missed the first part of 2014 due to an ACL injury.

(2)    Belinda Bencic. Before Indian Wells, she won only one WTA main draw match. For the second consecutive tournament, she made the fourth round defeating Daniela Hantuchova, Casey Dellacqua and Tatjana Maria, who defeated Eugenie Bouchard

Previous player of week

Week 11: Simona Halep – Indian Wells winner defeating Jelena Jankovic

Week 10: Heather Watson – Getting first Top 10 win of career defeating Agnieszka Radwanska

Week 9: Timea Bacsinszky – Monterrey winner defeating Caroline Garcia

Week 8: Lucie Safarova – Doha winner defeating Victoria Azarenka

Week 7: Karolina Pliskova – Dubai finalist losing to Simona Halep

Week 6: Daniela Hantuchova – Pattaya winner defeating Ajla Tomljanovic.

Week 5: Andrea Petkovic – Led Germany to Fed Cup semifinals

Week 4: Serena Williams – Australian Open winner defeating Maria Sharapova

Week 3: Madison Keys – Defeated two seeds including Petra Kvitova, who was seeded 4

Week 2: Heather Watson – Hobart winner defeating Madison Brengle

Week 1: Venus Williams - Auckland winner defeating Caroline Wozniacki