British wildcard Katie Swan was beaten 6-2 4-6 6-2 by Sam Crawford in the final round of Miami Open qualifying.
The 16-year-old from Bristol had beaten world number 102 Lauren Davis on Monday but struggled with a tight hamstring against American Crawford.
After taking the second set, Swan left the court to have her thigh bandaged before losing the decider.
In men’s qualifying, Briton James Ward lost 6-3 6-3 to American Bjorn Fratangelo.
Indian Wells tournament chief Raymond Moore has quit after his controversial comments about women’s tennis.
Moore, 69, said the women’s game “rides on the coat-tails” of the men – a view described as “sexist” by the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
Women’s world number one Serena Williams said Moore’s statement was “offensive and very inaccurate”.
But her male counterpart, Novak Djokovic, claimed his tour should fight for more money.
Moore said female players “should get down on their knees” in thanks to male counterparts such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The South African – a former player – later apologised for his “erroneous” remarks.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova said Moore’s comments were “extremely prejudiced”, adding female players may boycott Indian Wells if Moore stayed.
Djokovic, who won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Sunday, described Moore’s remarks as “not politically correct”.
But the 28-year-old Serb suggested men should get more prize money because more people watch their matches.
There has been equal prize money in all four majors – the Australian Open, US Open, French Open and Wimbledon – since 2007, and combined Masters events such as Indian Wells and Miami pay the same to men and women.
In a statement, Indian Wells tournament owner Larry Ellison said: “Ray let me know he has decided to step down from his roles as CEO and tournament director effective immediately. I fully understand his decision.”
Speaking in a BBC Radio 5 live special on equality in sport, former badminton world champion Gail Emms said: “If was Novak Djokovic, I would feel aggrieved as well.”
The Briton, an Olympic silver medallist, added: “I don’t like saying this, but it is easier to be a top female athlete than it is for males, because purely on numbers, how hard you’ve got to work to get up there.
“I’m not saying the top female athletes don’t work hard, and the ones at the top are fantastic athletes and sacrifice and dedicate a lot. It’s just a numbers game.”
Other arguments so far:
Australian men’s tennis is enjoying a resurgence with Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios ranked comfortably inside the Top 30 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, but 21-year-old Jordan Thompson has produced impressive results on the ATP Challenger Tour that show he could soon be ready to join them.
The World No. 117 has more than cut his ranking in half over the last 12 months with a series of strong performances. After reaching the final last year at Challenger events in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, and Traralgon, Australia, Thompson broke through last month by winning his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Cherbourg, France. The victory was even more impressive since the Australian was forced to save two match points in his quarter-final against Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
“It was very exciting. You play a lot of tournaments and you’re lucky to win one,” said Thompson, who is the No. 8 seed at this week’s ATP Challenger Tour event in Shenzhen, China. “I took a lot of confidence by winning my first Challenger and beating those top players.”
Thompson has spent the last few years training in Brisbane alongside fellow Aussies James Duckworth, John Millman and Benjamin Mitchell, but made a move earlier this year to Melbourne. But with plenty of top Australian players training there, Thompson will have plenty of motivation to continue pushing himself up the rankings.
“It’s best if we try and push each other,” said Thompson. “Nick (Kyrgios) just won his first ATP Tour title, Omar (Jasika) is very talented and Blake (Mott) just won his first challenger. It inspires young guys to be at that level and also just start playing tennis.”
His play has even attracted the attention of former world No. 1 and new Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, who invited the rising star to practice with him at his house in Sydney and the Australian Open. But while Thompson freely admits that playing under Hewitt “would be a honor,” he has some more immediate targets in sight for the rest of the season.
“I think it’s every player’s goal to be in the Top 100 and it’s my goal for sure as well,” said Thompson. “The ultimately goal is to try and play as many Grand Slams as possible. That’s where the money is and this is my job now.”
The World No. 1 goes for sixth Miami title; Federer to face del Potro/Pella winner
The ATP World Tour changes U.S. coasts this week, from Indian Wells, California, to Miami, Florida. But many will be asking the same question as the month’s second Masters 1000 tournament kicks off: Who, if anyone, can slow down World No. 1 Novak Djokovic?
Djokovic is 22-1 on the year, his only imperfection a retirement to Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in the Dubai quarter-finals that Djokovic avenged last week with a straight-sets win in Indian Wells. The Serb also has won 14 consecutive sets since dropping his opening frame at the BNP Paribas Open.
Djokovic, a five-time Miami champion (2007, ’11-12, ’14-15), is looking to win a record 28th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Miami. He receives a first-round bye but will open his title defense against either Kyle Edmund of Great Britain or the Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely. Should Djokovic bypass his second-round opponents, the first seeded player he could meet is Slovakia’s Martin Klizan, the No. 25 seed. Djokovic leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 2-0.
View Draw
In the fourth round, Djokovic potentially could meet World No. 14 Dominic Thiem, who’s played some of his best tennis in 2016. Thiem, the No. 14 seed, is the only player with as many wins as Djokovic – 22 – this year and nearly as many titles – two to Djokovic’s three.
But Thiem doesn’t have a straight line to Djokovic. The Austrian may have to overcome Lopez in the third round. Thiem possesses a 3-1 advantage in their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry. In the quarter-finals, Djokovic could play the No. 10 seed Richard Gasquet or the No. 7 seed Tomas Berdych. Gasquet and Berdych each receive a first-round bye and are seeded to play in the fourth round. Gasquet leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 7-6 and beat Berdych the last time they played on hard courts.
In the semi-finals, World No. 3 Roger Federer, could await Djokovic. Federer returns to the ATP World Tour this week after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus on 3 February. The Swiss will be making his 16th appearance in Miami and going for his third title (2005-06 champion).
The two-time champion, though, received a less-than-ideal draw. He receives a first-round bye but could face Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round, which would be Federer’s first match since 28 January. Federer won their last contest, a three-set battle at the 2013 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The 34 year old also leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry 15-5.
Del Potro opens against fellow Argentine Guido Pella, who enters Miami at a career-high No. 39 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Pella, a finalist in Rio last month, reached the third round at the BNP Paribas Open (l. to Goffin).
Should Federer escape his opening match, the Swiss No. 1 could be on track to face the No. 28 seed Jeremy Chardy in the third round and Belgium’s David Goffin in the fourth round. Goffin, the No. 15 seed, is coming off a career-best showing in Indian Wells, where he made the semi-finals and beat Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic. In the quarter-finals, either No. 11 seed Marin Cilic or No. 8 seed David Ferrer could await Federer.
World No. 2 and returning finalist Andy Murray leads the bottom half of the draw, as he looks to bounce back from an early exit in Indian Wells (l. to Delbonis). He could potentially face a third-round rematch with Federico Delbonis, who will first need to get through 19-year-old Swede Elias Ymer and No. 26 seed Grigor Dimitrov. The Brit, meanwhile, will open against either 19-year-old Borna Coric or Denis Istomin in the second round.
Murray is seeded to play the always tricky Gael Monfils in the fourth round, and could confront either Japan’s Kei Nishikori or France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals. Nishikori and Tsonga both reached the Indian Wells quarter-finals, respectively falling to Nadal and Djokovic.
Nadal, seeded No. 5, will look to maintain his momentum from a semi-final run in Indian Wells (l. to Djokovic), but could face Indian Wells finalist Milos Raonic, the No. 12 seed, in the fourth round and No. 4 seed Wawrinka in the quarter-finals. The top three Americans – No. 13 seed John Isner, No. 22 seed Jack Sock and No. 29 seed Sam Querrey – are also in the quarter of the draw.
British teenager Katie Swan recorded a career-best win with victory over American Lauren Davis to reach the Miami Open final qualifying round.
Swan, ranked more than 400 places below her opponent who is the world number 102, came back to win 1-6 6-4 6-2.
Naomi Broady also reached final qualifying with a 6-4 6-3 win over Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay.
In the men’s draw, James Ward beat Japan’s Yuichi Sugita 3-6 6-0 6-3 and will meet American Bjorn Fratangelo.
Miami Open presented by Itau – The 32nd edition of the Miami Open presented by Itau, gets underway on Wednesday. The 96-player draw features every member of the Top 10 (first time since 2012) and 18 of the Top 20 players in the Emirates ATP Rankings. The second of nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments of the season takes place at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park with three former winners in the field: reigning champ/five-time titleholder Novak Djokovic (2007, ’11-12, ’14-15), two-time champion Andy Murray (2009, ‘13) and two-time winner Roger Federer (2005-06).
The Reigning Champ – World No. 1 Djokovic is making his 11th straight Miami Open appearance. The five-time Miami winner owns a 36-5 career record, winning titles in four of the past five years. During that stretch he has won 24 of 25 matches, losing only to Tommy Haas in 4R in 2013. He also was runner-up in 2009. The 28-year-old Serb has won a record-tying 27 career ATP Masters 1000 titles (w/Nadal). After winning his third title of the year in Indian Wells, Djokovic has reached 10 consecutive ATP Masters 1000 finals (DNP ’15 Madrid) going back to 2014 Paris-Bercy. He’s won eight of the 10, compiling a 50-2 record in that span. In the past 20 tournaments played since the beginning of 2015, he is a sizzling 104-7 with 14 titles in 18 finals. Djokovic is attempting to equal Andre Agassi’s record of six Miami Open titles. Djokovic is also trying to join Agassi as the only three-peat winners in tournament history. Agassi won his last three titles from 2001-03.
Roger Returns – World No. 3 and 2005-06 Miami winner Roger Federer makes his return to the ATP World Tour after undergoing knee surgery on 3 February. Prior to his injury, Federer reached the final in Brisbane (l. to Raonic) and the semi-finals at the Australian Open (l. to Djokovic) on Jan. 28. The 34-year-old Swiss superstar has a 44-13 record in Miami and he’s making his 16th appearance. In his last visit two years ago, he reached the quarter-finals (l. to Nishikori). He made his tournament debut in 1999 (l. to Carlsen in 1R) and his first win came over Justin Gimelstob in 2000.
Home Tournament – No. 2 seed Andy Murray has the comforts of staying at his Miami home during the tournament. The 28-year-old Scottish native has a 27-8 record in Miami, reaching the final in three of the past four years. He won the title in 2012 and was runner-up in ’12 and last year (l. to Djokovic both times). He also won the title in ’09. This is the first time Murray comes into Miami ranked No. 2. After his 3R loss to Federico Delbonis in Indian Wells, Murray was looking forward to his Miami return. “I actually haven’t been back since the tournament last year, which is the longest I haven’t been there for about nine or 10 years maybe, since I started using that as a training block for myself. So, yeah, it will be nice to get to Miami and see my family. I’m not necessarily concerned about how I’m playing. I do think I will play better tennis in Miami because I played some good stuff in the Davis Cup.”
Rafa Looks For First Title – World No. 5 Rafael Nadal is making his 12th tournament appearance (35-10 record, W/O in ‘12). He is a four-time runner-up (2005, ’08, ’10, ’14) and this is the only tournament he’s not won with the most attempts. He also reached the SF in 2010 and 2012 and QF in 2007 and 2009.
Indian Wells, Miami Title Sweep – Since 1991, seven players have won the first two ATP Masters 1000 events of the season (10 times) in Indian Wells and Miami. Djokovic is the only player to accomplish the feat three times (2011, ’14-15). Federer won both titles in 2005-06. Seven players have won both titles in the same year:
| Champion | Year |
| Novak Djokovic | 2011, ’14-15 |
| Roger Federer | 2005-06 |
| Andre Agassi | 2001 |
| Marcelo Rios | 1998 |
| Pete Sampras | 1994 |
| Michael Chang | 1992 |
| Jim Courier | 1991 |
Big Four Domination – In 49 of the past 53 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (since ’10 Monte-Carlo), one of the “Big Four”, Djokovic, Murray, Federer and Nadal, has lifted the trophy. During that stretch, Djokovic has won 22 titles, Nadal 12, Federer 8 and Murray 7. The last non-Big Four winner in Miami was Andy Roddick in 2010. The only exceptions came at ’10 Paris-Bercy (Soderling), ‘12 Paris-Bercy (Ferrer) and in 2014 in Monte-Carlo (Wawrinka) and Toronto (Tsonga). The foursome are also among the Top 6 in ATP Masters 1000 titles:
T1) Djokovic 27
T1) Nadal 27
3) Federer 24
4) Agassi 17
T5) Murray 11
T5) Sampras 11
Note: In past 28 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, at least one member of Big Four has reached the final. Last time without a Big Four in final: ’12 Paris-Bercy: Ferrer d. Janowicz.
Next Generation – There are seven Next Generation players in the main draw and four are playing in the qualifying draw. Here’s a look at the talented 21 & under group:
| Main Draw | Rank | Age |
| Andrey Rublev (WC) | No. 154 (C-H) | 18 years, 5 months |
| Alexander Zverev | No. 52 (C-H) | 18 years, 11 months |
| Borna Coric | No. 46 | 19 years, 4 months |
| Hyeon Chung | No. 67 | 19 years, 10 months |
| Elias Ymer (WC) | No. 142 | 19 years, 11 months |
| Nick Kyrgios | No. 26 | 20 years, 10 months |
| Kyle Edmund | No. 87 | 21 years, 2 months |
Note: There are four players in the qualifying draw: Taylor Fritz (18, No. 81), Jared Donaldson (19, No. 152), Yoshihito Nishioka (20, No. 124), Noah Rubin (20, No. 194).
Wild Cards – The five main draw wild cards are from five different countries: Roberto Carbelles Baena (Spain), Nicolas Jarry (Chile), Michael Mmoh (U.S.), Andrey Rublev (Russia) and Elias Ymer (Sweden). Rublev, who reached the 2R last year in his debut, is the only player of the group to have already appeared in the Miami main draw. Mmoh, who is 18 years, 2 months, is the youngest player and one of six teenagers in the main draw. He is playing in his second career ATP World Tour tournament.
InfoSys ATP World Tour Wins Leaders – Djokovic and No. 14 Dominic Thiem, who reached the quarter-finals in Miami last year, are co-leaders in match wins on the ATP World Tour this season (both with 22). Here are the match wins leaders:
| Tour Leaders | W-L | Titles |
| 1) Novak Djokovic | 22-1 | 3 |
| Dominic Thiem | 22-4 | 2 |
| 3) Roberto Bautista Agut | 16-5 | 2 |
| 4) Stan Wawrinka | 15-3 | 2 |
| 5) Milos Raonic | 14-2 | 1 |
| Kei Nishikori | 14-5 | 1 |
| Tomas Berdych | 14-8 | 0 |
| Bernard Tomic | 14-8 | 0 |
Milestone Watch – Feliciano Lopez is two wins away from reaching 100 career ATP Masters 1000 match wins (98-110) while John Isner is four match wins away from reaching 300 in his career (296-182).
Delpo Comeback Continues – Juan Martin del Potro is playing in his third tournament on the ATP World Tour since coming back from a left wrist injury last year. This is the 27-year-old Argentine’s eighth appearance in Miami (13-7 record). His best result is the semi-finals in 2009 when he lost to eventual champion Andy Murray. Last year he lost to Vasek Pospisil in the 1R in his final match of the season. He underwent left wrist surgery on Jan. 20 and on June 18. He returned to action last month in Delray Beach where he advanced to the semi-finals (l. to eventual champ Querrey). In Indian Wells, he reached the 2R (d. Smyczek, l. to Berdych). He comes in ranked No. 366.
Baker is Back – Brian Baker is making his first tournament appearance since 2004 when he came in as an 18-year-old wild card (l. to Saulnier in 1R). The 30-year-old Nashville, Tenn. native has been plagued by several injuries over the years. He has an injury protected ranking of No. 56. In his only previous tournament this season at the Australian Open, he lost in the 1R to Simone Bolelli in four tie-breaks.
No. 1 Doubles Ranking at Stake – Jamie Murray is closing in on No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings. Murray came one match win short of overtaking current No. 1 Marcelo Melo in Indian Wells but lost in the quarter-finals. Melo has a 175-point lead over Murray while No. 3 Horia Tecau and No. 4 Jean-Julien Rojer are also within reach. Melo must reach the quarter-finals in order to have a chance to remain No. 1. Melo has 360 points to defend from last year while Murray has 90. Rojer and Tecau have 180 points to defend. They must win the title to have a chance to take over No. 1.
Outstanding Doubles Field – Eight of the Top 10 teams in the Emirates ATP Doubles Team Rankings are entered in the draw, led by Australian Open champions Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares. The reigning champions are four-time winners (2007-08, ’14-15) Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan. The top seeds are last year’s No. 1 duo Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau. Here is a look at the teams in the Top 10 who are entered:
1) Jamie Murray & Bruno Soares
2) Daniel Nestor & Radek Stepanek
3) Pierre-Hugues Herbert & Nicolas Mahut
4) Juan Sebastian Cabal & Robert Farah
5) Feliciano Lopez & Marc Lopez
6) Vasek Pospisil & Jack Sock
7) Treat Huey & Max Mirnyi
9) Philipp Petzschner & Alexander Peya
Former Champions in Draw – The only team playing together who are former champions in Miami are reigning two-time champions (four overall) Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan (2007-08, ’14-15). There are four other players who have won the title playing with different partners:
— Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi & Jean-Julien Rojer (2013)
— Max Mirnyi (2003, ‘05-06, ’09)
— Daniel Nestor (2002)
Other active players to win Miami title (not direct entry into draw):
— Leander Paes (2010-11-12)
— Radek Stepanek (2012)
— Mahesh Bhupathi (2011)
— Lukas Dlouhy (2010)
— Roger Federer (2003)
Bryans Eye Fifth Title – Reigning two-time doubles champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan look to become the first team to win three straight Miami titles since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde from 1995-97. Leander Paes won three straight titles with as many partners from 2010-12. The Bryans are off to a 7-5 start and their past three losses have come after holding match points. Their best result of the season was a runner-up in Delray Beach last month (l. to Marach-F. Martin). The Bryans have won a record 109 titles together, their last coming in Montreal last August. They have won Miami titles in 2007-08, ’14-15.
ICYMI
Novak Djokovic won his record fifth BNP Paribas Open title in Indian Wells. Read
Frenchmen Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert knocked off the defending champions to win the Indian Wells men’s doubles title. Read
Rankings Movers
Milos Raonic 12 (+2)
David Goffin 15 (+3)
Leonardo Mayer 41 (+5)
Alexander Zverev 52 (+6) – Career high
Marcel Granollers 73 (+19)
Birthdays
22 March – Andreas Haider-Maurer (29)
23 March – Roberto Carballes Baena (23)
28 March – Stan Wawrinka (31)
29 March – Juan Monaco (32)
30 March – Joao Sousa (27)
31 March – Henri Laaksonen (24)
2 April – David Ferrer (34)
The three-day educational sessions help players enjoy productive lives on tour
Eighteen-year-old Taylor Fritz felt like he was in school again.
The American hung out with his peers. They sat in classrooms and learned from “teachers” and guest speakers. And they had some fun.
Fritz and 15 other ATP World Tour players from 10 countries recently participated in ATP University, an opportunity for players to learn about important topics facing their careers. The ATP World Tour hosts the three-day educational session twice a year to inform the players about ATP World Tour operations and equip them with knowledge they’ll need for a productive life on tour.
At the recent ATP University, which was held in Miami, the players learned about 14 specific topics, including anti-corruption, anti-doping, giving back and an introduction to saving and investing.
“I think it was a great experience,” said Matwe Middelkoop of the Netherlands. “There was so much that I didn’t know before attending… Now we can use what we learned to spread the knowledge to the other players on tour.”
Middelkoop, No. 52 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings, and any other player in his first year of ATP World Tour Division I membership must attend ATP University. Division I membership is open to any singles player ranked inside the Top 200 of the Emirates ATP Rankings and to any doubles player ranked in the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings.
Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund, No. 87 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, said he knew some of the information that was presented but still found the sessions useful to reinforce what he knew. “The anti-corruption presentation was very interesting,” Edmund said.
ATP University also featured some fun for the players. They saw the Charlotte Hornets take on NBA star Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.
“It was an informative experience,” said Fritz, No. 81 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. “It is definitely something that every player should do coming up.”
Martina Navratilova says she would not be surprised if female players boycotted Indian Wells as a result of the row ignited by the tournament’s chief executive.
Raymond Moore said the women’s game “rides on the coat-tails” of the men and that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal have “carried this sport”.
Moore, 69, has since apologised.
But Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam winner, says women may not want to play at Indian Wells if he stays in charge.
Tom Fordyce: Equal pay is a myth – and a minefield
The 59-year said the views of South African Moore were “really disheartening”, “extremely prejudiced” and “very old-fashioned”.
“We have made it this far on our own, without help from male players, and will continue to do so in the future,” Navratilova added.
“It would be hard to imagine any women to want to go and play at Indian Wells if Moore stays as the tournament director.”
Navratilova was also disappointed by comments from world number one Novak Djokovic, who said he believes men should be awarded more prize money than women because it was more popular.
Speaking after his straight-sets win over Milos Raonic in the men’s final at Indian Wells, the Serb said women deserve the money they get, but men should fight for more because their game attracts more viewers.
“Novak Djokovic, as much as I love him, clearly doesn’t understand why, when women and men play in combined tournaments, they must be paid equally,” Navratilova said. “I thought we settled that issue years ago.”
World number one Serena Williams said Moore’s statement was “offensive”, calling it “mistaken and very, very, very inaccurate”.
There has been equal prize money in all four majors – the Australian Open, US Open, French Open and Wimbledon – since 2007, as well as at combined Masters events, such as Indian Wells and Miami.
But female players are paid significantly less at women-only events when compared with similar-sized men’s tournaments.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) said player equality is a “bedrock” principle and has been extremely critical of Moore.
“There is no place in this sport for antiquated, sexist or uninformed ideologies,” read a statement from Katrina Adams, who is the USTA’s chairman, chief executive and president.
She added that Moore’s remarks “in no way reflect the beliefs of the vast majority of those in the tennis world”.
Chris Kermode, chief executive of the Association of Tennis Professionals, called Moore’s comments “disparaging” and said they had been “made in poor taste”.
Former British Davis Cup captain David Lloyd backed Djokovic’s assertion that the men’s game was more popular than the women’s right now but said the opposite had been true in the past.
Lloyd said the women’s game had been “better” to watch than the men’s when Steffi Graf and Monica Seles were at their peak in the early 1990s. As a result, the public had been willing to pay more to see them play.
“It’s supply and demand and it could swing back in the future,” he said.