Miami Open: Bianca Andreescu ends Maria Sakkari’s campaign; Ons Jabeur’s out, too

Bianca Andreescu posted one of the most significant second-round upsets at the Miami Open on Friday. The Canadian took out seventh seed Maria Sakkari in what was the latter’s opening-round match in three sets. Andreescu dropped the opening set before rebounding and clinching a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 win for herself after three hours and four minutes of play.

Sakkari’s inability to control her shot-making proved to be her downfall. The Greek had 54 unforced errors across the match. Andreescu had 23 fewer unforced errors at 31. In terms of winners, Andreescu finished with five fewer winners than her opponent’s 26. For the match, Andreescu won 115 points, six more than Sakkari’s 109.

Andreescu now leads the win-to-loss record against Sakkari, 2-1. Meanwhile, in the third round, the 2019 Flushing Meadows champion will take on Sofia Kenin. The American came up with a second-round upset of her own against 28th seed Anhelina Kalinina. Kenin beat the Ukrainian 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 27 minutes.

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Qualifier Varvara Gracheva became the cause of fourth seed Ons Jabeur’s exit from the WTA 1000 event. Gracheva needed merely 71 minutes to wrap up a 6-2, 6-2 win over the Tunisian who’s playing her second tournament since being forced out of commission due to a knee surgery post the Australian Open.

Gracheva will play Erika Andreeva next.

Lastly, Caroline Garcia also joined her fellow top-10 seeds in leaving Miami early. Sorana Cirstea wrapped up a 6-2, 6-3 win over the Frenchwoman in an hour and 17 minutes. Cirstea faced eight break points but saved all but one of these. She, however, converted four break points on Garcia’s serve.

In the round-of-32, the Romanian will play Karolina Muchova. The Czech posted a 6-4, 6-2 win over 32nd seed Lin Zhu in their round-of-64 clash.

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka was one of the seeds who won her opening-round match-up at the Miami Open without any difficulties. The world no. 2 clinched a 6-4, 6-3 win over Shelby Rogers in 80 minutes. Sabalenka won 86% of her first-serve points and converted four break points on the American’s serve. She will take on 31st seed Marie Bouzkova who secured a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Anna Blinkova.