Number 4 seed Elena Rybakina came back from one set down to beat Danish qualifier and former world junior 1 Clara Tauson 3-6 7-5 6-4 after 2 hours and 27 minutes in the second round at the Miami Open.
Rybakina finished runner-up to Petra Kvitova in last year’s final of the Miami Open and never lost before the third round at this tournament. The Kazakh player won two titles in Brisbane and Abu Dhabi but she was not able to defend the Indian Wells title this year due to illness.
“I missed a lot of hours on the court. Of course now, every hour I get on the court, I just want to do better and better. Every match I played in Miami was a fight, so I expect the same for this week, and just go match by match”, said Rybakina.
Rybakina has won her 18th match of the year. She is tied with US Emma Navarro for second place in match-wins this year. Only world number 1 Iga Swiatek has more wins in 2024 with 20.
Tauson broke serve in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Rybakina converted her third break point in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Tauson earned two more breaks in the seventh and ninth games to win the first set 6-3.
Rybakina earned an early break in the first game of the second set to open up a 2-0 lead. Tauson saved two break points on Rybakina’s serve at 5-4. Rybakina broke serve in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead. The Kazakh player won the final eight points to seal the second set 7-5 with a overhead winner levelling the match at a set apiece.
Both players traded breaks in the first two games of the third set. Tauson was a point away from a 3-1 lead twice in the third set, but Rybakina saved two break points to hold serve in the fourth game for 2-2. The Kazakh player earned the crucial break with a passing winner in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead.
Tauson saved two break points to hold serve after two deuces in the seventh game. Rybakina hit a forehand winner to seal the win on her third match point.
Rybakina set up a third round match against qualifier Taylor Townsend, who beat number 25 seed Elise Mertens.“Townsend is a tricky opponent. We have never played against each other. She is a lefty, some good serves and volleys she can do. As I said, I will try my best to recover and prepare for this match”, said Rybakina.
Anhelina Kalinina saved a match point to beat former world number 1 Caroline Wozniacki 5-7 7-5 6-4 after 3 hours and 18 minutes.
Kalinina broke serve in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Wozniacki broke straight back to draw level to 2-2. The Danish player converted her second break point in the 12th game to win the first set 7-5.
Wozniacki extended her winning streak to five consecutive games to build a 3-0 lead in the second set. Kalinina broke back in the fifth game for 2-3. Wozniacki converted her third break point in a seven-deuce sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. The Danish player saved two break points to hold serve after five deuces for 5-2. Kalinina broke serve, as Wozniacki was serving for the match. Kalinina saved a match point on her serve with a forehand winner before breaking serve in the 11th game to take a 6-5. The 2023 Rome finalist served out the second set 7-5 after saving two break points to force the match to the decider.
Kalinina converted her third break point in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Wozniacki broke back in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3 before taking a medical time-out. Kalinina earned her second break in the seventh game to 4-3 lead and consolidated it with a hold of serve at 15 to take a 5-3 lead. Wozniaki saved three match points to hold serve and forced Wozniacki to serve out the win. Wozniacki hit a a forehand into the net. Kalinina sealed the win on her fourth match point on her fourth match point.
