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Miami Open: Naomi Osaka & Bianca Andreescu through to third round

  • Posted: Mar 22, 2019

World number one Naomi Osaka came through a three-set tussle with 141-ranked Yanina Wickmayer to reach the Miami Open third round.

Japanese top seed Osaka, who had a first-round bye, beat the Belgian qualifier 6-0 6-7 (3-7) 6-1.

Osaka, 21, hit 14 aces and saved five of six break points to set up a meeting with Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei.

“In the second set I got really emotional, so in the third I just tried to shut off my feelings,” Osaka said.

“I had to work hard out there.”

Osaka failed to defend her title in Indian Wells earlier this month after she was beaten in the fourth round by Belinda Bencic.

  • Edmund reaches third round in Miami
  • Britain’s Konta into second round

She looked comfortable against Wickmayer, although she needed two hours and nine minutes to close out victory.

Earlier, Australian world number 40 Ajla Tomljanovic beat Belarusian ninth seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 6-4.

Indian Wells champion Bianca Andreescu continued her good form with a straight-set win over American Sofia Kenin.

Canada’s Andreescu, who had to save match point in her opening-round match against Irina-Camelia Begu, beat Kenin 6-3 6-3.

Andreescu could next face Angelique Kerber in a rematch of the Indian Wells final, should Kerber beat Czech qualifier Karolina Muchova.

Serena Williams and Simona Halep begin their Miami Open campaigns later on Friday.

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Miami Open: Kyle Edmund beats Ilya Ivashka to reach the third round

  • Posted: Mar 22, 2019

British number one Kyle Edmund cruised into the third round of the Miami Open with a straightforward victory over Belarusian Ilya Ivashka.

Nineteenth seed Edmund, who received a first-round bye, beat his 110th-ranked opponent 6-3 6-2.

The Briton won 81% of first serve points and converted four of five break points during the 71-minute match.

Edmund will play Milos Raonic next after the Canadian’s second-round opponent Maximilian Marterer withdrew.

Fifth seed Kei Nishikori of Japan was beaten 2-6 6-2 6-3 by Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.

World number one Novak Djokovic begins his Miami Open campaign later on Friday against Australia’s Bernard Tomic.

  • World number one Osaka through in Miami
  • Konta recovers to win Miami opener
  • Live scores, schedule and results

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Munar: "I'm Excited For The Future"

  • Posted: Mar 22, 2019

Munar: “I’m Excited For The Future”

Mar222019

Return to Mallorca, and training with Nadal, is helping development

Jaume Munar is like a wide-eyed child in a candy store. With every air mile he clocks up, for every new tournament he visits, the 21-year-old Spaniard is learning more about the sport.

Speaking after his first ATP Masters 1000 match win over Indian qualifier Prajnesh Gunneswaran on Thursday at the Miami Open presented by Itau, Munar confessed to ATP Tennis Radio, “It means a lot, because of the work we have done over the years. The long journey we’ve been on since I was a young kid. It’s another step. I’m happy with the life I’m leading right now, on and off the court.

“I enjoy travelling too and I’m excited for the future. These courts are a bit slower than others. I used to have pre-season on hard courts in Spain and started playing tennis on hard courts, so I am comfortable. You have to play well on every surface these days.”

While Munar never competed at the Miami tournament, when it was held at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, the charismatic right-hander finds the Hard Rock Stadium to his liking.

“I never visited the venue in Key Biscayne, but I feel really comfortable here as I enjoy the big tournaments,” said Munar, who is currently at a career-high No. 61 in the ATP Rankings. “The Hard Rock Stadium is huge. You have the space, places where it is quiet. The facilities are perfect.”

Munar, who has advanced to four ATP Tour quarter-finals — Tata Open Maharashtra, Cordoba Open, Argentina Open and the Rio Open presented by Claro — so far in the 2019 season, credits much of his development down to leaving Barcelona and returning home to Mallorca to train.

“At the beginning it was difficult to go back,” said Munar. “I was 13 when I first went to Barcelona for the first time. I have many friends and coaches there, so it’s a special place. But I returned to Mallorca after seven years… It’s a special feeling when you have people from your hometown.”

The Spaniard trains at the Rafael Nadal Academy, “The Academy for me is my life. I am not living there, but I am used to working many hours – on and off the court, the gym. We try to do two sessions on the court, then a physio class, and also a fitness class. About 5-6 hours. There have been many times when I have been there at 8 a.m. and not left until 8 p.m. It’s my second home. It’s wonderful.”

Munar does not want to identify a particularly goal for the season, however, the influence of Nadal and the 17-time Grand Slam champion’s team, is evident in the progress he has made.

[Rafa and I] share a lot of things on and off the court,” said Munar. “I know him a lot right now and he teaches me things about the Tour, because he wants me to be the best I can be. It’s difficult to say numbers, in the situation I am right now, but I’ve been working hard and developing.

“I know that I will have my chances during the year. I did well on the Latin American swing, but I’d like to rise into the Top 40 this season.”

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Johanna Konta into Miami Open second round after beating Jessica Pegula

  • Posted: Mar 22, 2019

British number one Johanna Konta saw off a spirited challenge from American Jessica Pegula to reach the Miami Open second round in straight sets.

Konta recovered from losing the opening game on her serve to beat the qualifier 6-1 6-4 in 69 minutes.

The 27-year-old, who is seeking her second Miami Open title, will play Chinese number 18 seed Wang Qiang next.

Unseeded Konta, who reached a career high of fourth in the world two years ago, is currently ranked 38.

She could face 10th seed Serena Williams if they both make the quarter-finals.

Konta said earlier this week that she will play three home WTA grass-court tournaments this summer before Wimbledon.

The 2017 Wimbledon semi-finalist plans to compete at the events in Nottingham, Birmingham and Eastbourne in June.

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