Osaka Wins As Seeds Tumble In Miami, Halep Withdraws; Swiatek, Gauff Fri.
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The big match-up between Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber turned one way as Osaka destroyed her fellow-No. 1 a 6-2, 6-3 in the second round at the Miami Masters.
Osaka, who was heckled out of Indian Wells last week, has looked good in two matches thus far, playing powerful tennis to overwhelm Kerber today.
“It is a confidence booster, but I didn’t go into the match not confident, if that makes sense,” Osaka said. “For me, it kind of just shows all the hard work that I have been doing throughout the year.”
Osaka will now meet the returning Karolina Muchova who held off Leylah Fernandez in two sets.
“She’s to me one of the most athletic players on tour,” Osaka said. “It’s going to be a really fun match I think. I know we both really want to win it.”
Kerber and Fernandez’s losses were part of a big day of seeds to exit.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her downward spiral falling in straights to Irina Camila Begu. No. 3 seed Anett Kontaveit was stunned by American Ann Li in three 6-0, 3-6, 6-4.
No. 6 seed Karolina Pliskova was upset in straights by Anna Kalinskaya and Katerina Siniakova bounced US Open champion Emma Raducanu 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
“I think I just felt better as the match was going on because really, I was fighting in the beginning,” said Siniakova. “It looks like I need to lose before I try to start to play my game! It was a really tough match and it could’ve gone either way.”
Simona Halep also withdrew from the event due to a thigh injury.
Elina Svitolina, Tamara Zidansek, and Alize Cornet also lost, but Ons Jabeur, Danielle Collins and Belinda Bencic got through.
Tomorrow in second round play, Coco Gauff collides with Wang Qiang, Iga Swiatek and Maria Sakkari open play and former champions Sloane Stephens and Victoria Azarenka are also in action.
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