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regular-article-logo Saturday, 20 April 2024

Kyrgios, Osaka make winning starts at Miami Open

Wildcard Kyrgios fired down 12 aces and did not face a single break point in his 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win

Reuters Published 25.03.22, 03:25 AM
Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka File picture

Australian Nick Kyrgios sealed a comfortable victory over Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the first round of the Miami Open on Wednesday, while former world No.1 Naomi Osaka defeated Astra Sharma.

Wildcard Kyrgios fired down 12 aces and did not face a single break point in his 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win. “It was a hell of a performance,” Kyrgios said. “Getting on late, it wasn’t easy. So I’m proud of myself with the way I responded.”

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The Australian said he would be a “complete underdog” in his second-round match against Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev.

Earlier, Osaka was cheered on to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Australia’s Sharma.

Osaka was in complete command right from the moment she stepped onto the Hard Rock Stadium court, never allowing Sharma a single break opportunity while keeping her 96th-ranked opponent under constant pressure, converting two of 11 break points.

After the match, Osaka soaked up the applause from the sparse crowd in what was a far different atmosphere from 11 days earlier in Indian Wells when she fought back tears after being heckled during a second-round loss to Veronika Kudermetova.

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