Seven-time Key Biscayne Serena Williams cruised past Monica Niculescu 6-3 6-1. Two weeks ago the US legend had to dig deep when she beat Monica Niculescu 7-5 7-5. This time it was a completely different story as Serena was in control of the match and cruised to a easy win dropping just four games. In the second set Williams broke serve three times.
Williams extended her winning streak to 13 consecutive matches in Miami and to 16 consecutive matches on tour this year.
“It was definitely easier than the last time. I don’t think I had many unforced errors compared to when we played at Indian Wells”, said Williams.
Serena set up an intriguing third round match against 15-year-old US tennis emerging talent Cici Bellis who cruised past Zarina Diyas 6-2 6-1. It will be the first match between the 19-time Grand Slam super star and the US teenager who grabbed the headlines last year when she beat Dominika Cibulkova in the first round of the US Open.
Serena’s sister Venus beat Samantha Stosur 6-4 7-6 (7-3) setting up a fourth round against Caroline Wozniacki who came back from a set down to edge Kaia Kanepi 4-6 6-1 6-3.
Serena and Venus have announced that they will play in the Fed Cup Play Off match against Italy in Brindisi, the home town of Italian star Flavia Pennetta. The Williams sisters helped the US team win over Argentina 4-1 in Buenos Aires. Italy and the USA will battle for a spot in the Fed Group World Group.
In the other matches originally scheduled on Friday but postponed on Saturday after the rain Sara Errani beat Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova 6-1 7-6 (7-5), Angelique Kerber battled past Great Britain’s Heather Watson with 7-5 3-6 6-4. Tatiana Maria upset Eugenie Bouchard 6-0 7-6 (7-4). Bouchard dropped her serve five times and made five double faults.
