Nice Britain’s Emma Raducanu cruised to a 6-2 6-1 victory over Japan’s wildcard Sayaka Ishii within the first spherical of the Miami Open on Wednesday, however Katie Boulter was knocked out by Peyton Stearns in straight units.
Raducanu began quick by claiming the opening two video games earlier than Ishii discovered her rhythm and levelled at 2-2 however the Brit reeled off 4 successive video games to take the primary set 6-2.
The 2021 US Open champion continued her dominance within the second set, extending her streak of successive video games gained to 9 as her 19-year-old Japanese opponent, ranked 188th on the earth, struggled within the Florida solar.
Ishii averted a whitewash within the second set by holding serve within the sixth sport earlier than Raducanu took her first match-point alternative to say victory in a single hour and 5 minutes.
Raducanu’s victory got here regardless of her ending her teaching trial with Vladimir Platenik after simply two weeks.
Raducanu’s representatives mentioned: “Emma and Vlado have parted methods. Emma has utmost respect for Vlado and the work they began nevertheless it wasn’t fairly on course.
“Emma is now focused on doing as well as she can here in Miami after her solid start today and will continue looking for the right coach.”
It’s Raducanu’s first victory in Miami and she is going to face the match’s eighth seed Emma Navarro within the second spherical.
Raducanu’s win over Ishii noticed her enhance on disappointment at Indian Wells in her earlier match look, a first-round straight-sets defeat by Moyuka Uchijima.
Raducanu: Vitality was lacking in previous few months
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Raducanu displays on her win over Sayaka Ishii on the Miami Open
“I was just so focused on every point and trying to compete, that was my main objective today,” Raducanu mentioned on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
“I was just trying my best on every point and bringing some energy and competitiveness. Maybe that’s been missing in the last couple of months, so I was really proud of that and it’s nice to win.
“I used to be enjoying a tricky opponent, younger wildcards are so harmful so I used to be happy I managed to come back by way of.”
Talking about dealing with Navarro within the subsequent spherical, Raducanu mentioned: “She can manoeuvre the ball well and has a lot of variety.
“It’s deceiving how arduous she hits the backhand particularly. We’re fairly comparable by way of our construct and our sport I believe it’s going to be an attention-grabbing match-up, and one which I am wanting ahead to, and I assume proper now one I haven’t got strain on.”
Britain’s Boulter dealt first-round exit in Miami
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Highlights of Katie Boulter vs Peyton Stearns on the Miami Open
Raducanu is the final British girl standing within the match after Katie Boulter was crushed 6-4 6-2 by American Peyton Stearns.
Boulter asserted herself with a 3-1 first-set lead earlier than Stearns adjusted to choose up 4 straight video games and lead 5-3.
The 28-year-old took the subsequent sport however went on to lose the set and Stearns went on to dominate the second to comfortably advance into the subsequent spherical.
Kyrgios ends three-year victory drought
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Highlights of Mackenzie McDonald vs Nick Kyrgios on the Miami Open
Nick Kyrgios got here from a set down to say a 3-6 6-3 6-4 win over Mackenzie McDonald – his first ATP Tour victory since 2022.
The Australian is glad to be again however won’t be getting carried away.
“To come off and get a win and feel like I belong again was special,” he mentioned. “I never thought I would play tennis again to be brutally honest with you.
“I used to be having conversations with my camp and my staff…and I mentioned ‘I do not understand how lengthy I can maintain doing this for’. This (win) places some petrol within the tank however I have to be real looking and see how my wrist feels tomorrow as a result of it’s a grind out right here.”
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