MIAMI, FL, USA – Kirsten Flipkens weathered a strong start from wildcard Laura Robson to ease through to the second round of the Miami Open.

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Robson, whose bright career has been derailed due to injury woes since 2014, has been edging her way back onto the WTA in the past few months, and she put up a strong challenge against the No.65-ranked Flipkens, a finalist earlier this year at the Abierto Monterrey Afirme.

The 22-year-old Brit came out firing, grabbing an early break to race ahead to a 3-0 lead and allowing Flipkens to win just two points. The Belgian finally got on board and after three consecutive breaks, she held serve to level the score at 4-4. They hung tight and, despite Robson bringing up three set points, Flipkens held her nerve to send it into a tiebreaker.

This time it was Flipkens who grabbed an early lead to go up 3-0, and though Robson was starting to mount a comeback, Flipkens fired off five straight points to take the opening set.

After seeing her monumental effort come up short, Robson had nothing left in the tank to withstand Flipkens’ second-set dominance, and the Belgian reeled off four straight games to clinch the match 7-6(4), 6-2.

Earlier in the day, No.664-ranked Peng Shuai, whose career was similarly derailed due to injury, is back to her winning ways after a win over Van Uytvanck 6-3, 7-5. It’s Peng’s first victory since February 2015 in Dubai, and just her second singles match since last year’s French Open.

Nicole Gibbs and Madison Brengle, a pair of Americans, also advanced to the second round in straight sets. Brengle dispatched the always dangerous Camila Giorgi 6-4, 6-3, while Gibbs backed up her Indian Wells dream run with a straightforward win over Yulia Putintseva, 6-4. 6-2.

Also through to the second round are Zarina Diyas, Lesia Tsurenko, Margarita Gasparyan and Danka Kovinic.