Anhelina Kalinina was down and nearly out on Thursday with former top-ranked participant Caroline Wozniacki one level away from successful in straight units on the Miami Open.
However the No. 32-seeded Ukrainian saved that match level and gained the final 5 video games of the second set earlier than taking the third in a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 victory within the second spherical.
Wozniacki, who gained the Australian Open in 2018 and retired from tennis on the similar event two years later, returned to the game final yr. She had two kids throughout her time away from the sport.
Wozniacki reached the quarterfinals in Indian Wells this month however retired from the match towards top-ranked Iga Swiatek within the second set due to a proper foot difficulty.
No. 11 Beatriz Haddad Maia additionally overcame a gradual begin in scorching and humid circumstances on the laborious courts, rallying to beat Diane Parry 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. It was the Brazilian’s first profession victory in three tries towards Parry, who gained each earlier matches on clay.
In different girls’s matches, No. 24 Katie Boulter superior when Brenda Fruhvirtova retired from their match whereas trailing 7-6(5), 1-0; No. 8 Maria Sakkari beat Yuan Yue 6-2, 6-2; Taylor Townsend defeated No. 25 Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-2; No. 22 Anna Kalinskaya beat Wang Xiyu 6-2, 6-2; and Seventeenth-seeded Madison Keys defeated Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-4.
In males’s motion, 2016 finalist Kei Nishikori misplaced 6-3, 6-4 to Sebastian Ofner in his first match at this degree since Indian Wells in 2021. The 12-time ATP Tour champion, who as soon as climbed to fourth within the rankings, was competing in his first ATP Tour occasion since Atlanta in 2023.
The distinction between observe and a match was evident, he stated.
“All people will get little nerves and also you get somewhat bit tight, and issues can utterly change,” Nishikori stated. “You recognize, through the observe you very relaxed and also you hit the ball very clear. But it surely’s not going to occur through the match. A few of these gamers, they don’t provide you with free factors.”
Elsewhere among the many males, Canadian hardcourt specialist Felix-Auger Aliassime was an early winner, beating Adam Walton 7-5, 6-4.
The 32 seeded gamers got first-round byes. Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed within the girls’s draw, is predicted to play her opening match towards Paula Badosa on Friday.