Sony Ericsson Women's Preview

We move from the laid back atmosphere of Indian Wells to red hot South Beach.  The season really starts heating up here as the clay court season is around the corner and points are to be had.  The musical chair game we have seen at the beginning of the year is only getting wilder and like Miami, hotter.  The only sure thing we have seen so far is that Victoria Azarenka cannot be touched.  Will she keep that up in  Miami?  Maria Sharapova has been unbeatable for the exception of one Victoria Azarenka.  Petra Kvitova is trying to find her form at the beginning of the year after a couple of head scratchers and then there is the rest of the field.  Caroline Wozniacki just seems to keep moving down on the slide she is in and Agnieszka Radwanska is moving up the ladder quietly.  Samantha Stosur is not the same as she was in the Open last year and Serena has been missing in action much of the year with her sister Venus.  Miami will give us some answers, or might just confuse us more.  As I have done in the past, I will break down the draws of the top 4 seeds.

#1 Victoria Azarenka

Can we say Djokovic year?  She has been unbelievable and unstoppable this year.  The target on her back is huge now but the only problem is that no one can hit her.  Vika is here to stay and you might as well pencil her in as your champ for this tournament.  Angelique Kerber might be waiting for her in the round of 16 giving us a rematch of the semis at Indian Wells.  Vika moved past red hot Kerber quickly and I'm predicting the same here.  Moving into her quarterfinal match, Vika could face Bartolli who is a savvy vet but doesn't posses the stamina and firepower to really cause Azarenka any problem.  Looking into the semis, Vika might be facing the one player that could derail her in Petra Kvitova.  This is a juicy match-up with the hot new star facing "yesterday's" star (Wimbledon 2011 champ).  Vika should move into the final and probably facing the one player she is feeling she owns, Maria Sharapova.  Pencil her in as Miami champ!

Indian Wells 2012 women preview!

Jump on the carousel!  This year has produced anything and everything.  The only real consistent has been the inconsistency.  We have been plagued by injuries on the WTA tour along with results that make you scratch your head.  There will be drama at Indian Wells, hopefully it's the one that we get excited for not the one where we feel sorry for the player being injured.

The shinning star this year is non other than Vika!  Azarenka has played amazing and has dominated the tour.  She will have some test in her side of the draw with savvy Kuznetsova, former GS champ, in the 3rd round.  Kutz is more than capable to take a player apart with her ground game and experience.  This could really be a big test for Vika before she possible gets into the quarterfinals against a player that has been hot lately, Radwanska.  She is coming of a title in Dubai and is looking to take on a larger playing field and move up in the rankings.  Her steady play should not be a match for Vika but if she doesn't bring her A-game and Radwanska does, it might be an early exit for the world's #1.

Petra Kvitova must be feeling as she is being overlook.  Not much talk has been put on her as a real contender even though she is the 3 seed here.  The loss to Sharapova at the AO hit her hard and her game has not been up to par this year but this could be the week that starts her up again.  Her 3rd round could possible by against America's new sweetheart in Christina McHale.   The crowd will definitely be pulling for McHale which will test the Czech's nerves and patience.  In that same draw we might have the quietest and most dangerous player on tour, Vera Zvonarava.  She has been close to winning Slams before but her inconsistency in her mental game has caused her Slams and the world #2 ranking.  She is coming in a quiet 9 with some potential upsets in mind.  Li Na has started somewhat slow this year but she is a Grand Slam winner.  She can potentially cause some noise in this side of the draw but I can't see anyone really taking out Kvitova.  She should be safely into the semis.

The bottom quarter of the draw with Sharapova might be the most open.  She has a bunch of middle level players that have given her little if no problem in the past.  The quarterfinal can be with Sam Stosur but her inconsistency this year leaves me wondering if she will even make it that far.  Look for Maria to STEAMROLL into the semis.

Now this might be my favorite quarter of the draw.  Caroline Wozniacki will have her hands full with some crafty veterans.  Monica Niculescu comes in as a seed this year and would play Wozniacki in the 3rd round if she is able to get past her 2nd round match.  Niculescu is the Santoro of women's tennis as she can place various spins on the ball and really frustrate you.  This will be a tough test for Caroline as she will have to provide all the pace to the ball; always tricky.  Ana Ivanovic has been like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get (thank you Forrest).  She might play very well throughout the tournament and break down at the end or she might just break down from the get go.  She is definitely a dangerous rover because of her uncertainty.  Now we have the Italians, before they make it to the quarters to face Caroline they will have to face each other.  Schiavone is another Grand Slam winner with game beyond game.  She can turn it on at times and looks like players are yo-yos.  Look out for her as she is looking to regain that spark she had in 2010.  Marion Bartoli drives the women CRAZY!  She has all the game in the world so it's difficult to attack and her idiosyncrasies make her an enigma to most players.   She has been a top 10 player for years now because of these characteristics and will continue to be so.  Look out for Bartoli and her game.

The top players will definitely be tested with the exception of Maria.  Who knows though, with the carousel of the WTA tour she might fall her first couple of rounds.  The draw and play, hopefully injury free, will be captivating to watch.