World ranking leader Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) began the defense of her title at the UTA 1000 hard court tennis tournament in Miami (USA) with a prize fund of 9.4 million dollars.
Sabalenka, who seeks to become the fifth tennis player of all time to triumph in Miami for the second year in a row, prevailed 7:6(5), 6:4 in the second round over American Anne Li in 1 hour and 42 minutes.
The number 1 ranked champion admitted that although she was not satisfied with her overall level of play, she was pleased with her reaction to the difficulties. She squandered a 4-1 lead in the first set, which she took after a tiebreak, and in the second half she led 3-1 and won the match.
Sabalenka's next opponent will be Katie McNally (USA), who defeated Xinyu Wang (China) 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.
No. 6 Amanda Anisimova (USA) overcame a second-set hesitation after serving for the match before the rain interruption to eliminate Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.
No. 4 Coco Gauff (USA) and No. 7 Jazmine Paolini (Italy) came from a set down and are also advancing. Goff defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto (Italy) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, and Paolini defeated Taylor Townsend (USA) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
In an all-Kazakh clash, third seed Elena Rybakina won against compatriot Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-3.
A number of seeded players withdrew from the tournament. Anastasia Zakharova (Russia) defeated No. 22 Anna Kalinskaya (Russia) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, Romanian Sorana Curtea eliminated No. 14 Linda Noskova (Czech Republic) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, Alicia Parks (USA) achieved success over No. 33 Maria Sakkari (Greece) 6-3, 6-3, and Katie Boulter (Great Britain) dealt with No. 17 Clara Towson 6-7(4), 6-4, 1-0 and the Dane retired.
Ninth seed Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) advanced to the third round after defeating Emerson Jones (Australia) 6-2, 6-4, and No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova (Russia) defeated Lili Tager (Austria) 6-3. 6:3.
In other matches, Russian Diana Schneider defeated Teresa Valentova (Czech Republic) 7:6(7), 7:6(3), Yulia Starodubtseva (Ukraine) defeated Kristina Buxa (Spain) 6:2, 3:2 and forfeit, Elise Mertens (Belgium) defeated Elvina Kalieva (USA) 6:2, 6:0, number 13 Karolina Muchova (Czech Republic) eliminated Camila Osorio (Colombia) 4:6, 6:2, 7:5, Elena Ostapenko (Latvia) won against Diana Yastremska (Ukraine) 6:4, 6:4, American Haley Baptiste prevailed over number 19 Lyudmila Samsonova (Russia) 6:3, 7:5, and number 27 Marta Kostyuk (Ukraine) defeated Kamila Rakhimova (Russia) - 6:2, 6:4.