'I'm still alive' - Hsieh plans clay court campaign after 'incredible' 2019 start

MIAMI, FL, USA - Hsieh Su-wei's tough Tuesday at the Miami Open continued long after a disappointing singles defeat to Anett Kontaveit, returning to Court 1 for doubles with Barbora Strycova to take on Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka.

GALLERY: Quarterfinal quests - Hsieh upsets Wozniacki to make last eight

"I'm still alive!" the still-jovial Hsieh told me after a 7-6(3), 2-6, 10-3 loss to the reigning BNP Paribas Open champions. 

Hsieh came torturously close to her first Premier Mandatory semifinal, unleashing her "Su-wei Style" to scintillating effect and leading her former practice partner by a set and a break and later by 4-0 in the third set, ultimately getting two points away from victory at 5-3.

"Sometimes when you’re leading by a lot, you get a little bit relaxed, and you don’t hit the ball as hard as you were before," she said, comparing the match to her Australian Open clash with eventual champion Naomi Osaka. 

"I had a little pulled muscle but I didn’t want to call the physio. I was thinking I could keep trying, trying, trying. The pulled muscle was just small stuff, and she did really well to come back after 4-0 because I was playing so good. She did a good job to get revenge, and next time I need to be careful!"

It's simple as that for the 33-year-old former doubles World No.1, who came into the Sunshine Swing with few expectations in spite of a sparkling start to 2019.

"Dubai was the first tournament where I made a Premier 5 semifinal, and I picked up the most big points in my life! It was 350 points, I think, so I’m very happy with what I did there. When I came to the US, I had some points to defend, and I thought, ‘Whatever, if I don’t do good, I still have 350 points!’" she laughed. "It helped a lot."

That pressure-free tennis was on display at the Hard Rock Stadium, where she avenged the Melbourne loss to Osaka and scored her first win over former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki to reach the biggest quarterfinal of her career.

"It’s incredible when you’re not practicing well, but you get on the court, forget how you did in practice, play a few good matches, and you win them. That’s quite amazing. I’m happy with how we’re doing and I’m thankful for my team. They’re doing a great job getting me into the matches."

Hsieh will likely return to Paris to address any niggling physical issues, and marks the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix as her "exciting" return to red clay in April. A Roland Garros champion in doubles with Peng Shuai, the Chinese Taipei veteran couldn't replicate those results in singles until 2017, when she stunned British No.1 Johanna Konta in the first round, sparking the rise back up the rankings that continues today.

"I think the problem was just that I needed to play a few tournaments to feel the clay courts. Then, I can feel better, because sometimes it’s a different rhythm. Sometimes the game is pretty fast and other times, pretty slow. Two years ago, I was playing a tournament, doing pretty bad, and totally lost the rhythm in the clay.

"But suddenly," she snaps her fingers, "you win two or three matches, and you feel it. You never know. I will be positive!"

Estimating her total points haul at 250 last spring - having reached the Grand Prix de SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem semifinals and the Internationaux de Strasbourg quarterfinals - Hsieh will be hard-pressed not to ignore her growing total as she will likely be one spot away from her career-high singles raking of World No.23 on Monday.

"Before, when I had my coach, Paul, he would do all the counting. Now I try to do it myself. I think about it a little bit but I don’t put too much pressure. When you’re seeded in the tournament, it’s always good, and you’re not playing a big seeded player."

No matter her rank, her fellow players already see Hsieh's star on the rise. On Monday, Simona Halep complimented her "hard to describe" style while Petra Kvitova called it "more unique than us, that's for sure."

Overwhelmed by the praise, Hsieh saluted her rivals from the press conference podium.

"I will try to work hard. Thank you, girls!"