Serena and Sloane win their openers in different style.
Serena
The world no.1 conceded only 2 games to Flavia Pennetta. The result was a bit too tough for the Italian that has definitely opposed some resistance. Serena didn’t drop a single service game, but she had to face and save 7 break points. Flavia on the other side saved 13 break points out of 18 (!).
Talking about her performance Serena said “I don’t think it was too much rust. I think I missed a few shots, but only because I was off footwork-wise. It’s always just good to win a match and stay in the tournament and keep going.”
Serena will play Ayumi Morita in the third round. The Japanese upset Heather Watson in the first round to the beat Yanina Wickmayer 7-6 (2) 2-6 6-3. Head to head is 1-0 for Serena that beat the Japanese 6-1 6-3 in the third round of the Australian Open this year
Sloane Stephens
Sloane has been struggling a bit after her triumphant Australian Open where she lost in the semifinal against Azarenka after defeating her childhood idol Serena Williams. After that she crashed out in the second round in Doha, in the first in Dubai and in the first again in Indian Wells.
Sloane didn’t really start well also here in Miami to be bageled (6-0!) in the first set. Then the American did regroup to win the next two sets 6-4 6-4.
“I wasn’t playing that great,” Sloane said. “I was asleep out there. I definitely just needed to wake up and start playing. A lot just battling and just hanging in there.”
Other results
Oprandi – Safarova 7-6 (4) 4-6 7-6 (5)
Cibulkova – Mladenovic 6-2 6-3
Wozniacki – Pliskova 5-7 6-3 6-3
Muguruza – Pavlyuchenkova 4-6 6-2 6-2
Li – Bertens 6-3 6-1
A Radwanska – Hshieh 6-3 6-2
Rybarikova – Barthel 6-3 7-6 (5)
Petkovic – Bartoli 6-3 4-1 Tomljanovic – Gorges 7-6 (4) 6-2
Flipkens – Voegle 6-4 6-2
Kvitova – Peng 5-7 6-2 6-2
