MY KOLKATA EDUGRAPH
ADVERTISEMENT
regular-article-logo Friday, 26 April 2024

Miami Open: Contrasting victories for Coco Gauf and Elena Rybakina

Pegula beat qualifier Katherine Sebov 6-3, 6-1 while sixth seed Gauff eased past Rebecca Marino 6-4, 6-3 to set up a battle with Anastasia Potapova

Reuters Miami Published 25.03.23, 06:18 AM
Coco Gauff.

Coco Gauff. File photo

Americans Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff secured straight-sets victories over Canadians on Thursday to book their spots in the third round of the Miami Open, while Indian Wells champion Elena Rybakina battled to a win over Anna Kalinskaya.

Third seed Pegula beat qualifier Katherine Sebov 6-3, 6-1 while sixth seed Gauff eased past Rebecca Marino 6-4, 6-3 to set up a battle with Russia’s Anastasia Potapova.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gauff converted five of her nine break-point chances and twice came back from a break down in the second set.

With the victory, the 19-year-old Gauff broke a stalemate with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and now holds the record for most wins (34) at WTA 1000 events before turning 20.

Later on Thursday, Wimbledon champion Rybakina, fresh off her triumph at Indian Wells, registered a hard fought 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win over Russia’s Kalinskaya.

Kalinskaya tested the world No. 7 throughout the contest and broke early on, but with the Russian leading at 5-3, Rybakina was able to raise her level and win four straight games to take the first set.

In the second set, Kalinskaya pulled ahead at 5-4 before holding serve to level the match. The pair traded breaks early in the decider but Rybakina got over the finish line after more than two hours on court.

Thiem falters

On the men’s side, Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin, who made a surprising run to the fourth round at Indian Wells, beat Marcos Giron 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to reach the second round.

Austrian wild card Dominic Thiem’s struggles continued as he was beaten 7-6(7), 6-2 by Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, while Richard Gasquet defeated Christopher O’Connell 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

Follow us on:
ADVERTISEMENT