By: Christopher Menendez
Miami- Today’s biggest upset comes from Serena Williams loss against Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-6(3), 1-6, 2-6. The three set match was a display of Kuznetsova’s abilities and advances her to the quarter-finals. “You can’t win every game”, shared Serena in a post-match interview.
No. 2 in the world Andy Murray lost in a three-set match against Grigor Dimitrov, 7-6(1), 4-6, 3-6. Murray had won in their last three meetings. He commented after the match “you never know what your opponents plan is when you get out there.” When asked if he thinks Dimitrov has what it takes to win The Miami Open he stated: “He performed well today…yes, maybe he has what it takes to win.”
Victoria Azarenka from Belarus beat Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza, 7-6(6), 7-6(4). Azarenka, a two-time champion at The Miami Open, is bidding to become the third player to win both Indian Wells and Miami in the same year.
The grandstand kicked off this morning with a win for World no. 6 Kei Nishikori against Alexandr Dolgopolov, 6-2, 6-2. Nishikori achieved three aces and scored a point on 73% of his first serves.
Romanian Simona Halep defends her top 5 WTA ranking with a win against Great Britain’s Heather Watson, 6-3, 6-4. Halep is the third Romanian to break into the WTA Top 10 and is now the highest ranked Romanian woman in history!
Roberto Bautista Agut overcame ATP top 10 player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3). Bautista Agut will go on to compete fellow top ten contestant Kei Nishikori.
Elina Svitolina lost to Ekaterina Makarova, 1-6, 4-6. To secure a top 30 spot in the WTA Makarova needs to make it to the semi-finals. Makarova is on to the next round where she will face Kuznetsova, who defeated World No. 1 Serena Williams Today.
About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2016 Miami Open will be played March 21-April 3 at the Crandon Tennis Center in Miami. The two-week combined event is owned and operated by IMG. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the WTA calendar, and features the top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world. The tournament is widely regarded as the most glamorous on the ATP and WTA calendars because of its exotic Miami location, thriving nightlife, five-star hotels and restaurants, beautiful weather and beaches, and its celebrity appeal. For ticket information, call +1.305.442.3367 or visit www.miamiopen.com.
About Itaú
Itau is the largest Latin America privately owned bank, with approximately 95,000 employees and operations in 20 countries throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. Itaú’s relationship with sport goes back to the 1970s, when Itaú first sponsored the Itaú Tennis Cup in Brazil in 1970. Itaú has been a sponsor of the Miami Open for the last six years, and also sponsors the Rio Open, the only combined ATP/WTA event in South America. Itaú also supports the Brazilian Women’s Tennis Circuit, only female professional tournament in South America, certified by the Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), as well as the Tennis Institute Training Center, responsible for the development of young, new talent.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion and media operating in more than 25 countries around the world. IMG’s businesses include Events Media, College, Golf, Tennis, Performance and IMG Academy, Fashion, Models, Clients, Licensing, Joint Ventures, and creative management agency Art + Commerce. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, the world’s leading entertainment and media agency. Together, the companies offer an unparalleled client roster; strategic partnerships with sponsors and brands; and marquee assets across sports, entertainment, events, music and fashion.
