- 28 Mar 2021
World No 1 Ashleigh Barty moved through to the last 16 of the Miami Open, while Simona Halep‘s campaign came to a premature end because of a shoulder injury. Defending champion and top seed Barty was too good for Jelena Ostapenko in Saturday’s showdown between the former French Open winners.
Two-time grand slam winner Victoria Azarenka also moved through to the fourth round of the WTA Premier tournament.
Safely into Round 4
Top seed @ashbarty beats Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 and awaits the winner of Kerber vs. Azarenka!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/f9z8Ay5pMQ
— wta (@WTA) March 27, 2021
Clash of past and present No 1s
Barty and former world No 1 Azarenka will go head-to-head for a place in the quarter-finals.
The Australian star accounted for Ostapenko 6-3 6-2 as she extended her winning streak at the Miami Open to eight matches. Barty, who tallied nine winners to 14 unforced errors, rallied from 2-0 down in the second set by reeling off six successive games to advance.
“Today felt like I was a lot sharper and switched on and ready to go from the very first point,” Barty said afterwards.
Three-time Miami champion Azarenka trumped Angelique Kerber 7-5 6-2 in the third round.
Azarenka – the 14th seed – fought back from a 4-1 deficit in the opening set to get the better of the three-time major winner.
“She’s a very talented player,” Azarenka said of Barty. “I always have been a huge fan of her game and the way she plays, the way she handles herself. She has a lot of variety. She has pretty much every single shot there is. [It’s] going to be a great match.”
The three-time champ is through to Round 4, where she will face top seed Barty! pic.twitter.com/37MXDt7n67
— wta (@WTA) March 27, 2021
Injured Halep pulls out
Two-time Grand Slam champion Halep withdrew due to a shoulder injury as Anastasija Sevastova benefited from a walkover.
“I’m very sorry to I have to pull out of the singles and doubles at the Miami Open, but my injury doesn’t let me play here as expected,” said Halep. “I’m sad that I can’t continue, I wanted to come here to give my best and play many matches but unfortunately I can’t. Hopefully next year I will come back healthy and better.”
KONJUH BELIEVE IT
@anakonjuh defeats Swiatek to make it back-to-back Top 20 wins and reach Round 4 in Miami!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/QqQ8NF2zML
— wta (@WTA) March 27, 2021
Next up for Sevastova is wildcard Ana Konjuh, who stunned 15th seed and reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
Svitolina and Sabalenka roll on
Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina booked her spot in the round of 16 after overcoming fellow seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6(1), 6-4.
Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova stands in the way of a quarter-final berth; the ninth seed was too good for 17th seed Johanna Konta 6-1 6-2.
Seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka prevailed 7-6(4), 6-4 against Veronika Kudermetova.
A hard-fought 3 set battle, sealed with an ace.
@VondrousovaM takes out No.11 seed @BelindaBencic.
She’ll now face @SabalenkaA in the Round of 16 #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/cAqg2WP8Qj
— wta (@WTA) March 28, 2021
No 11 seed Belinda Bencic was sent packing 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Marketa Vondrousova, who will take on Sabalenka.
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