(Miami) It’s been 20 years since Venus Williams won the tennis tournament presented near her home, and her stint at the 2021 Miami Tournament was brief.
Posted on March 23, 2021 at 5:59 p.m.
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The 40-year-old American was eliminated in the first round on Tuesday, losing 6-2, 7-6 (10) to Kazakhe Zarina Diyas, 89e in the world ranking.
Williams, who entered the tournament at 79e rank in the WTA rankings, was in its 21e participation in the Miami Tournament, which now takes place 75 minutes from her home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Williams’ most recent triumph at this tournament dates back to 2001, when she defeated compatriot Jennifer Capriati in the final. She also won the tournament in 1998 and 1999.
The first day of competition was held in front of meager crowds, and it will stay that way. Due to the pandemic, only 750 spectators will be admitted to the tournament site.
The seeds benefit from passes in the first round, including world number one Ashleigh Barty, who will be able to take advantage of this delay before her first game to adjust her body clock. She arrived in Miami after a 45-hour journey from her native Australia.
“Brisbane-Sydney, Sydney to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Miami is, usually, a relatively easy trip,” Barty said.
“We had a cancellation of a flight when we left Australia, and another when we got to Los Angeles. ”
The tournament will take place in the absence of Serena Williams and the three players who have dominated men’s tennis for years: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic chose not to make the trip from Serbia and the other two cited health reasons.
These absences create an opening for players in their twenties within the men’s singles table. They have long hoped to achieve breakthroughs in the most prestigious tournaments.
“I won’t lie; it’s an opportunity, ”said Stefanos Tsitsipas, ranked fifth.
“There are a lot of good players who are not in the top-5 who can play good tennis as well. I see them as threats too. “
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