Storm Hunter has joined fellow Australian Daria Saville within the second spherical of the WTA Tour’s Miami Open.
Hunter, the present world No.122, progressed after Martina Trevisan retired when trailing 6-3 3-0 on Thursday (AEDT).
After efficiently getting by way of two rounds of qualifying for the principle attract Florida, Hunter’s conflict with the 61st-ranked Italian ended after simply 46 minutes.
The 29-year-old Queenslander will subsequent play Twentieth-seeded American Emma Navarro, who loved a opening-round bye.
Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka posted one other victory in her comeback from maternity go away, beating Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3 6-4.
Four-time grand slam winner Osaka took simply 78 minutes to defeat the world No.51 and stay unbeaten in first-round matches in seven appearances on the match.
Osaka began her return 1-3, however got here into Miami having gained 4 of her final six matches. Her greatest results of the 12 months to date is a visit to the final eight in Doha – her first quarter-final since her 2022 Miami Open ultimate run.
Osaka will now have a second-round showdown in opposition to one other returning mom, Ukraine’s No.15 seed Elina Svitolina.
Osaka and Svitolina have evenly cut up their six earlier conferences. Their most up-to-date encounter got here within the 2019 Australian Open quarters, which Osaka gained in straight units en path to the title.
Florida native and 2018 Miami champion Sloane Stephens celebrated her thirty first birthday with a 6-2 6-3 win in opposition to three-time grand slam winner Angelique Kerber.
“A very great day at the office,” Stephens stated.
“I feel like I had the biggest party ever, and you guys all came out.”
Up subsequent for the 2017 US Open champion, who fell within the third spherical at Indian Wells final week, is Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.
2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin was crushed 6-2 4-6 6-3 by compatriot Katie Volynets and Danielle Collins gained one other all-US conflict with Bernada Pera, 3-6 6-1 6-1.
With Reuters.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
