MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Anhelina Kalinina was down and virtually out Thursday with former top-ranked participant Caroline Wozniacki one level away from profitable in straight units on the Miami Open.
However the No. 32-seeded Ukrainian saved that match level and gained the final 5 video games of the second set earlier than taking the third in a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 victory within the second spherical.
Wozniacki, who gained the Australian Open in 2018 and retired from tennis on the similar match two years later, returned to the game final 12 months. She had two youngsters throughout her time away from the sport.
Wozniacki reached the quarterfinals in Indian Wells this month however retired from the match in opposition to top-ranked Iga Swiatek within the second set due to a proper foot concern.
No. 11 Beatriz Haddad Maia additionally overcame a gradual begin in sizzling and humid situations on the exhausting courts, rallying to beat Diane Parry 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. It was the Brazilian’s first profession victory in three tries in opposition to Parry, who gained each earlier matches on clay.
In different ladies’s matches, No. 24 Katie Boulter superior when Brenda Fruhvirtova retired from their match whereas trailing 7-6 (5), 1-0; No. 8 Maria Sakkari beat Yuan Yue 6-2, 6-2; Taylor Townsend defeated No. 25 Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-2; No. 22 Anna Kalinskaya beat Wang Xiyu 6-2, 6-2; and Seventeenth-seeded Madison Keys defeated Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-4.
In males’s motion, 2016 finalist Kei Nishikori misplaced 6-3, 6-4 to Sebastian Ofner in his first match at this stage since Indian Wells in 2021. The 12-time ATP Tour champion, who as soon as climbed to fourth within the rankings, was competing in his first ATP Tour occasion since Atlanta in 2023.
The distinction between observe and a match was evident, he mentioned.
“Everyone will get little nerves and also you get slightly bit tight, and issues can utterly change,” Nishikori mentioned. “You already know, throughout the observe you very relaxed and also you hit the ball very clear. However it’s not going to occur throughout the match. A few of these gamers, they don’t offer you free factors.”
Elsewhere among the many males, Canadian hardcourt specialist Felix-Auger Aliassime was an early winner, beating Adam Walton 7-5, 6-4.
The 32 seeded gamers got first-round byes. Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed within the ladies’s draw, is anticipated to play her opening match in opposition to Paula Badosa on Friday.
