Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Paula Badosa reach Miami Open third round, Daria Kasatkina beaten by Elise Mertens
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Updated 23/03/2023 at 23:10 GMT
Jessica Pegula beat Katherine Sebov in her opening match at the Miami Open as she started her quest for a second WTA 1000 title of her career. Third seed Pegula made the semi-finals in Miami last year where she lost to Iga Swiatek, who has withdrawn from the tournament due to injury. Paula Badosa and Coco Gauff also won but eighth seed Daria Kasatkina suffered a surprise loss to Elise Mertens.
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Jessica Pegula eased into the third round of the Miami Open with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Katherine Sebov.
World No. 3 Pegula broke serve five times to beat qualifier Sebov, who was on an eight-match winning streak.
Pegula made the semi-finals in Miami last year and her chances of another deep run have been boosted by the withdrawal of world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who was on the same half of the draw.
Pegula will next face 30th seed Danielle Collins, who is yet to win in three previous meetings against her fellow American.
While Pegula advanced in straight sets, Paula Badosa came through 7-6(2) 4-6 6-2 against Laura Siegemund in a match that lasted two hours and 51 minutes.
Badosa will next meet either Indian Wells champion Elena Rybakina or Anna Kalinskaya.
Sixth seed Coco Gauff, who could meet doubles partner Pegula in the quarter-finals, won 6-4 6-2 against Rebecca Marino.
Elise Mertens knocked out eighth seed Daria Kasatkina with a 4-6 6-2 6-2 win.
Kasatkina had led the head-to-head 4-1 coming into the contest and looked to be heading for another win after coming from 3-0 down to take the first set.
But Mertens turned the match around to advance to the third round.
Zheng Qinwen made a winning return as she beat Irina-Camelia Begu 2-6 6-1 6-1.
The 23rd seed pulled out of Dubai and then missed Indian Wells due to injury, but rallied to secure victory over Begu.
Zheng will next face No.12 seed Liudmila Samsonova or qualifier Viktorija Golubic.
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who is the highest seed in the absence of Swiatek, opens against Shelby Rogers on Friday.
Belarusian Sabalenka has said that she has suffered “hate” since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Belarus is an ally of Russia, and has, along with Russia, seen its athletes banned from competing at some events, including Wimbledon.
"It was really tough to understand that there's so many people who hate me for no reason," said Sabalenka.
"I did nothing...It was really tough for me because I've never faced that much hate in the locker room.
"There are a lot of haters on Instagram when you're losing matches, but in the locker room I've never faced that.
"I had some - not like fights - but I had some weird conversations with - not the girls - but with members of their team. It was tough. It was [a] tough period.
“But now it's getting better."
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