WTA Indian Wells 2022 Draw Preview and Analysis

March has at all times been one of many standout months in each tennis calendars with again to again occasions at Indian Wells and Miami. The WTA aspect of the draw has taken a success earlier than the occasion has began with each of the highest two seeds – Ashleigh Barty and Barbora Krejcikova – not collaborating over the following two weeks.

With Krejcikova’s withdrawal coming after the draw, that does open up the primary quarter of the draw for quite a few gamers. Karolina Pliskova would look to be the favorite from this part however her 2021 efficiency left rather a lot to be desired with the Czech dropping in straight units to Beatriz Haddad Maia early on. The early rounds don’t look too troubling though the massive hitting Ludmila Samsonova may trigger bother. The Russian has surged up the rankings prior to now few years and now has a seeding to her identify. Dayana Yastremska might be the one to observe although on this part if she is just not emotionally drained for apparent causes. She returned to type in Lyon, making her first closing for two years. A retirement in her final match and a failure to construct on her US Open title makes Emma Raducanu an apparent choose for early seeded exit. The Brit performs the winner of Yastremska and Caroline Garcia in her first match.

It will really feel like the right spot for the 2015 champion Simona Halep to return to type. The Romanian is exterior the highest 20 in the intervening time however has a brand new teaching setup in addition to having hung out on the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy not too long ago. It received’t be straight ahead for her with Coco Gauff and Ekaterina Alexandrova doable foes early on, with the latter having defeated Halep on just a few events. Halep may additionally get a spot of revenge in spherical 4 if Alize Cornet makes it there. The Frenchwoman had an unlikely run to the quarter finals in Melbourne, defeating Halep alongside the best way. Cornet is the beneficiary of Krejcikova’s late withdrawal, slotting into her place because the thirty third seed.

Compared, the second quarter of the draw seems to be stacked on paper. Heading it up is Iga Swiatek, who’s scorching off success in Doha. She swept apart three prime 10 gamers on her approach to successful the title, dropping a mixed 14 video games throughout wins in opposition to Maria Sakkari, Aryna Sabalenka and Anett Kontaveit. She could have been disenchanted to have misplaced a really winnable Australian Open semi closing again in January however is placing herself in a great place to problem for her second slam within the close to future. Clara Tauson generally is a troubling opponent however nonetheless suffers from youthful inconsistency. Angelique Kerber does nonetheless have the expertise to benefit from any slipups within the draw however you wouldn’t fancy the German to repeat her quarter closing of final 12 months with Swiatek anticipated to be in the best way in spherical 4.

The 2022 of Madison Keys to this point sums up the American’s profession up to now. She was very good in Australia, successful a title and making it to the final 4 in Melbourne. Since then, she has misplaced two opening matches in Mexico with one to Concord Tan being an enormous lowlight. If that model of her turns up at Indian Wells, one other early exit might be on the playing cards. Garbine Muguruza‘s 12 months has been removed from stellar too, failing to push on from her WTA Finals title on the finish of final 12 months. Elina Svitolina‘s thoughts is understandably elsewhere and she or he could proceed to battle right here. Losses to the likes of Camila Osorio and Tereza Martincova depart rather a lot to be desired and Ana Konjuh could also be sniffing an upset in spherical two. Belinda Bencic’s rating has solely gone a method for the reason that pandemic and she or he will likely be hoping to reverse the slide that sees her presently exterior the highest 20.

2021 champion Paula Badosa achieved a profession excessive final month, making it to No.4 thanks largely to this occasion, Sydney and the WTA Finals. Her foray within the Center East didn’t go too effectively with one win and two losses however she will likely be comfortable to return to the placement of a current success. It needs to be a reasonably routine few matches on her approach to the fourth spherical however she is going to doubtless face a tricky take a look at at this stage. Leylah Fernandez is recent off successful a second straight Monterrey whereas Jelena Ostapenko is on a scorching streak in the intervening time. She beat 4 slam champs on her approach to the Dubai title and in addition made the semi closing in Doha final day out, falling to Anett Kontaveit for the second time in a month.

With Ashleigh Barty by no means being one to overschedule, Anett Kontaveit would possibly legitimately have hopes of the No.1 with out a slam. A title run right here or near it’s in all probability going to place her No.2 within the rankings. Her newest trophy haul got here in St Petersburg and that was adopted by a closing in Doha. She seems to be a cert to make the fourth spherical however the curiosity will lie in what stage Naomi Osaka is at. The four-time slam winner is low on matches and now finds herself at No.78 within the rankings however when match and firing, there are few exhausting court docket gamers higher.

The efficient prime seed at this event will now be Aryna Sabalenka, who slots into the underside of the draw because the No.2 for now. She missed the occasion final 12 months so has good alternative to make up some floor on Ashleigh Barty however might want to enhance on her earlier performances in 2022. She was outplayed by Iga Swiatek of their Doha match, discovering herself damaged on seven separate events – one thing that’s unacceptable for a participant of her customary even when she will break again at will. It might be a fourth spherical conflict between the 2 “impartial” representatives with Victoria Azarenka additionally on this part of the draw. The “Sunshine Double” has at all times served the previous No.1 effectively with a number of titles in each occasions previous to giving beginning however moreover, she was a finalist right here final day out.

Wrapping up the draw is the part led by Ons Jabeur. The Tunisian was probably the most improved gamers of 2021 and her robust all-round helped her make the highest 10 for the primary time late final 12 months, the place she has remained since. She made the semi finals right here final 12 months and now persistently performs to her seeding degree, making the quarter closing in every of her three tournaments this 12 months. Elise Mertens and Petra Kvitova will likely be hoping to spring shocks on the upper ranked seeds of their sections however Jabeur and Maria Sakkari ought to keep a far greater degree persistently to see off the menace. Sakkari will want a powerful run right here however may effectively make the Prime 5 for the primary time if she goes deep.

Prediction – Iga Swiatek defeats Anett Kontaveit