WTA: Miami: Fan favourite Monica Puig finally feels ripe

For Monica Puig, Olympic victory in 2016 was a blessing and a curse. She became a folk hero in Puerto Rico, but after her triumph in the Rio final against Angelique Kerber she also had difficulties to be successful on the tour. Puig has now reached the round of 16 for the first time in her adopted country Miami.

Caroline Wozniacki can tell you a thing or two about how much they love Monica Puig in Miami. In the opening game against Puig (6-0, 4-6, 4-6, 4-6) the Australian Open winner from Denmark even felt threatened by the audience and complained: “They wished my mother and father to die, insulted me with words I cannot repeat here and told my fiancé’s niece and nephew (both ten years old) to sit down.

Puig said after her first appearance in the Round of 16 at the Premier Mandatory event in Key Biscayne that she hadn’t heard anything, “But of course the crowd was emotional and excited,” said the 24-year-old, who after the 6-3, 7-5 win against the Greek Maria Sakkari on Tuesday was also the favourite in a duel with qualifier Danielle Collins (USA).

And Puig dreams of setting the biggest exclamation mark since her magical night in Rio de Janeiro in her adopted home on the Atlantic. At the time, she surprisingly defeated Angelique Kerber (Kiel) in three sets in the final – and made herself immortal in Puerto Rico.

I was only 22 years old and did not know how to deal with this matter. It took me a while to get over it, and it was also a matter of maturity,” explained the just under 1.70 meter tall Puig, adding: “I think I’m ready to evolve – as a man and a player.

The crash after the golden moments at the Sugar Loaf can also be seen in the world rankings. While she was already in 27th place in 2016, Puig is currently only 82nd in the ranking. In the period after their greatest triumph so far, however, they also threw other things off course.

Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico also hit Puig hard, and “Pica” launched a website through which donations could be made for the reconstruction of the island. Together with the Russian Maria Sharapova, she helped to distribute heaters and other utensils to those in need, “It was a very formative time,” said the Floridian, who has won a WTA tournament so far: 2014 in Strasbourg.