On a sunny Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla., World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the round of 16 at the Miami Open, though the victory came on a disappointing note as Elena-Gabriela Ruse retired due to an injury.
“It’s really unfortunate for her, and I hope she recovers quickly,” Sabalenka expressed empathetically during her post-match interview on the court. “She’s a true warrior, and I hope to see her back in action soon. It’s hard to comment much on this match. I just want to thank everyone who came out to support us, especially with all those amazing posters and T-shirts!”
Sabalenka, who was coming off a defeat in the Indian Wells final the previous week, dominated the first set with a 6-1 win before Ruse had to stop play due to a right thigh injury.
Looking ahead, Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam titleholder, is set to face the winner of that evening’s grandstand match between American and Miami Open defending champion Danielle Collins and Swiss qualifier Rebeka Masarova.
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka secured her spot with a hard-fought victory over American wild card Hailey Baptiste, managing a 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4 win. Italian Jasmine Paolini, seeded sixth, also moved forward when Ons Jabeur had to withdraw due to a left leg injury, trailing 4-3 in the first set.
Coco Gauff, who holds the third seed, smoothly sailed into the round of 16 as well, delivering a solid 6-2, 6-4 win over Greece’s Maria Sakkari.
Switching to the men’s competition, top-seed Alexander Zverev overcame Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 6-4, thus advancing to the third round. Displaying a mix of robust serving and baseline control, Zverev fended off two break points during his 74-minute match against the British qualifier.
This victory marked Zverev’s 145th win in a Masters 1000, setting a German record by surpassing Tommy Haas. Up next for him is Australia’s Jordan Thompson.
Reflecting on his performance, Zverev told reporters, “I’m pleased to have improved some aspects since Indian Wells, where I didn’t feel great on the court. I hope this win is just the start, and I can maintain this level of play.”
In a surprising turn of events, Hong Kong wild card Coleman Wong edged past 13th-seed Ben Shelton in a thrilling 7-6(3), 2-6, 7-6(5) match. Additionally, Canada’s Denis Shapovalov and American third-seed Taylor Fritz both clinched victories on Saturday, setting the stage for their upcoming third-round clash.
This report includes information sourced from Reuters.
