Today’s Women’s News (3/20) – Miami

Written by: Staff on 20th March 2013

Today's Women's News (3/20) - Miami

epa03541668 Heather Watson of Great Britain in action during her match against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, in round three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 18 January 2013. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Miami

Heartbroken Brit Heather Watson is set to take time away form tennis after losing a second straight first-round matche she went down at the Miami Masters to Japan’s Ayumi Morita 1-6, 7-5, 6-4. Watson told British media that she has stalled since reaching a career-best 39th ranking on the WTA and needs time away from the game.

“This year I’ve been going a bit too long so I’m a bit burnt out. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now and I’m definitely going to take a break from tennis.” Watson led a set and a break before her opponent rose to the occasion to turn the tables for a second-round place.

Japanese wonder woman Kimiko Date-Krumm, 42, advanced over South African Chanelle Scheepers 6-2, 6-0 while Andrea Petkovic played her first main-draw match since October 20 as she beat Serb Bojana Jovanovski 6-3, 6-1. The popular Petko hurt her knee at the Hopman Cup in January just as shew was coming back form more physical problems (she was out from last October) and had to undergo surgery. She missed out on a place in the field at Indian Wells with a qualifying loss.

France’s Kristina Mladenovic spoiled the comeback of Aleksandra Wozniak, after trailing early in a 7-5, 6-2 win against the Canadian who hurt her elbow last autumn and last played at home in Quebec in mid-September. Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei, coached by Paul McNamee, advanced over Lesia Tsurenko 6-4, 7-6 (17-15), winning a monster final-set tiebreaker.

Italy’s comeback candidate Flavia Pennetta beat Swede Johanna Larsson 6-4, 6-1 and Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands blanked Anna Tatishvili 6-0, 1-0 as the Russian retired hurt.

The Effects:

* Heather Watson will fall out of the Top Forty

* Aleksandra Wozniack, Anna Tatishvili will fall below #60

* Sofia Arvidsson is likely to end up below #55

* Andrea Petkovic should rise above #160

* Irina-Camelia Begu likely to hit the Top Fifty

The Seeds:

Second seed Victoria Azarenka remains a huge question mark for the Sony Open as the two-time champion tries to regain fitness on a serious ankle problem which forced her from the Indian Wells event last week.

Azarenka remains second in the draw behind Serena Williams, but could easily become a pullout victim if the injury does not improve before what would be a late start after a bye.

Williams returns to the courts as she bids for a sixth title at Crandon Park, in what she and her sister Venus consider their home event. The pair skip Indian Wells and have done so for more than a decade after what they and their family insist was a “racial” incident back in the day when a crowd booed Serena.

The younger Williams has not played since losing the Doha final a month ago to Azarenka and then withdrawing from Dubai.

All 32 Miami seeds get first-round byes, with household names not going into action until nearly the weekend. The delay might just give Azarenka time to heal while Williams can certainly use the training time.

The 31-year-old is playing her first event since taking back the top WTA ranking spot from Azarenka and will face former Top 10 Flavia Pennetta.

Holder Agnieszka Radwanska could find herself across the net from either seventh seed Petra Kvitova or No. 10 Marion Bartoli. China’s Li na is due to make her first appearance since an ankle injury against Williams in the Australian Open final almost two months ago.