Kerber Wins; Venus vs. Kuzy Monday at Miami Open

World No. 1 Angelique Kerber led the third-round winners on Sunday at the Miami Open, defeating unseeded American Shelby Rogers 6-4, 7-5 to advance to a meeting with Japan’s dangerous unseeded Risa Ozaki.
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“It was a good match,” said Kerber, who was down a break in both sets. “I was trying to feel my game again. I was moving good, but it was not so easy because she didn’t play badly. I was trying to stay positive and play my tennis.”

Ozaki defeated Germany’s Julia Goerges 7-6(5), 6-3.

Other Top 10-seeded winners Sunday were No. 3 Simona Halep rolling Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 6-0, No. 7 Svetlana Kuznetsova beating unseeded American and former No. 1-ranked junior Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-2, and No. 10 Johanna Konta beating France’s Pauline Parmentier 6-4, 6-0.

“I think I played my best match of the year,” Halep said. “I was confident, and knew what I had to do — push and make her run. I hit some winners, which was very good for me. I was moving well, so I think everything went pretty well for me tonight.”

Kuznetsova will next face No. 11 Venus Williams, who defeated Patricia Tig 6-3, 6-0.

“I felt like my level was continuing to rise, which is exactly what I want,” Venus said after the match. “It was just one break of serve in the beginning. I’d never played her, so you always have to get used to new patterns and rhythm.”

Halep will meet No. 14 Sam Stosur, who came from a set down to beat China’s Peng Shuai 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Konta will face Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena Vecino, who upset No. 8 Madison Keys 7-5, 7-5.

“It’s going to be a tough match, for sure,” Halep said of Stosur. “I know how I have to play, because she’s very dangerous. Her forehand is strong, and so is her serve. I’m here to do my job, and to try to win because that’s what I want. Nothing special. I just expect a tough one and I’ll go there to fight.”

Highlights of Monday play in Miami include (6) Garbine Muguruza vs. (12) Caroline Wozniacki, (7) Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. (11) Venus Williams, (1) Angie Kerber vs. Risa Ozaki, and (4) Simona Halep vs. (14) Sam Stosur.

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