Number 3 seed Garbine Muguruza advanced to the third round of the Miami Open after US Open Junior champion Amanda Anisimova was forced to withdraw from the match due to a right foot injury. The US teenager beat China’s Wang Qiang 6-3 1-6 6-2, but she suffered from an ankle injury.
Anisimova was awarded a wild-card to play in Miami after reaching the fourth round in Indian Wells thanks to wins over Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova and Petra Kvitova.
Muguruza is looking to bounce back from a second round defeat against Sachia Vickery in Indian Wells.
“I always feel like I am in my second home in Miami. It was a tournament where people got to know me a little bit. I am still trying to find my rhythm. I have had a few good matches and a few that have not gone my way. I have trained hard to get prepared here”, said Muguruza.
Alizé Cornet beat US Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-2 7-5 after 1 hour and 38 minutes in the first round. Mattek-Sands made her come-back to the court nine months after suffering a very serious knee injury at Wimbledon last summer.
Cornet got an early break in the opening game, but Mattek Sands broke straight back in the next game. Cornet earned another break on her fifth break point chance in a marathon five-deuce game. and sealed the first set with a break in a long seventh game.
Both players saved a break point in their first service games of the second set and went on serve until Cornet claimed a break in the fifth game. Mattek Sands broke back in the 10th game to draw level to 5-5, but Cornet earned another break at love for 6-5. The French player rallied from 0-30 down to serve out the match.
“It was an entertaining match for the crowd. I was happy to see her. I am confident for her comeback and I am happy to be in the second round. I came to her and we talked about how she felt and everything that was going through her mind. After the draw came out, I was happy to be her first opponent”, said Cornet.
Reigning Olympic singles champion Monica Puig beat Samantha Stosur 6-3 6-4 after 1 hour and 24 minutes to score her third win in seven head-to-head matches against the Australian player. The Puerto Rican player will face this year’s Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki.
“Caroline and I have had tough matches in the past. I have won some and she has won some. I am just looking forward to playing another match in front of my home crowd and a tough one at that, so I am ready to go”, said Puig.
