Nadal/Verdasco Make Winning Start

Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco defeated Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-4 to move into the second round of the Miami Open presented by Itau on Thursday. The Spanish left-handers were only broken once and secured the win in 69 minutes.

Nadal/Verdasco earned their first doubles win in 2016 as a team. They fell in the first round in Doha (l. to Gabashvili/Ramos-Vinolas) and in Indian Wells (l. to Bryan/Bryan).

No. 8 seeds Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock, finalists in Indian Wells last week, were eliminated by John Isner and Nicholas Monroe 7-6(3), 6-3. Isner/Monroe, teaming up for the first time since Paris 2013, saved 11 of 12 break points to secure victory in 70 minutes.

Also upset were No. 6 seeds Rohan Bopanna and Florin Mergea. The 2015 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals runners-up (l. to Tecau/Rojer) were felled by Pablo Cuevas and Marcel Granollers 2-6, 6-4, 10-4 in 68 minutes. Bopanna/Mergea lost despite winning two more points than their opponents (60-58).

Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez maintained their excellent early-season form, advancing to the second round thanks to a 3-6, 6-3, 10-6 win against Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey. The Indian Wells semi-finalists (l. to Pospisil/Sock) won 76 per cent of second serve points and were only broken once in the 69-minute encounter.