Mektic/Pavic Cruise Into Second Round In Miami

Are Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic ready to make a successful title defence this week at the Miami Open presented by Itau?

The Croatians made a good start on Friday when they defeated Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili and Serbian Laslo Djere 7-6(3), 6-1 to reach the second round. Last year, they did not lose a set en route to the title.

Next round will be a tough showdown against Canadian Denis Shapovalov and Indian Rohan Bopanna, who eliminated El Salvador’s Marcelo Arevalo and Dutchman Jean-Julien Rojer 6-7(5), 6-2, 10-3.

In other action, sixth seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski ousted South African Lloyd Harris and Dutchman Matwe Middelkoop 7-6(6), 7-5. Seventh seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares did not advance, as Argentines Federico Delbonis and Maximo Gonzalez upset them 6-7(4), 6-4, 10-8.

Australian Open finalists Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell also reached the second round with a 6-3, 6-0 triumph against fellow Aussie Alex de Minaur and Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas.