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Thursday 28 of March 2024

Azarenka Beats Qualifier Linette at Miami Open


Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, returns to Magda Linette during the Miami Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., Sunday, March 27, 2016,Photo: AP/Alan Diaz
Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, returns to Magda Linette during the Miami Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., Sunday, March 27, 2016,Photo: AP/Alan Diaz
Belarusian star moves into the fourth round and is bidding to become only the third woman to win Indian Wells and Miami back to back

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka overcame five double-faults and held every service game to beat qualifier Magda Linette 6-3, 6-0 on Sunday at the Miami Open.

Azarenka, seeded 13th, moved into the fourth round and is bidding to become only the third woman to win Indian Wells and Miami back to back.

Floridian Madison Keys, seeded No. 22, reached the round of 16 for the first time in seven tournament appearances by beating No. 9 Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-4. Keys won 19 of 21 points at the net.

Madison Keys, of the United States, keeps her eyes on the ball as she prepares to return to Roberta Vinci, of Italy, during the Miami Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., Sunday, March 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Madison Keys, of the United States, keeps her eyes on the ball as she prepares to return to Roberta Vinci, of Italy in Key Biscayne, Fla. Photo: AP/Alan Diaz

No. 2 Angelique Kerber rallied past qualifier Kiki Bertens, who retired trailing 1-6, 6-2, 3-0.

In men’s play, lucky loser Horacio Zeballos reached the fourth round by saving a match point and beating Fernandez Verdasco 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4). Zeballos lost in qualifying but made the draw when Roger Federer withdrew because of a stomach virus.

No. 7 Tomas Berdych erased all 10 break points he faced and defeated American Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3. Johnson, seeded 31st, fell to 0-13 against top-10 opponents.

Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, celebrates after winning a set against Magda Linette, of Poland, during the Miami Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., Sunday, March 27, 2016. Azarenka won 6-3, 6-0. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Azarenka celebrates after winning a set against Magda Linette during the Miami Open tennis tournament. Photo: AP/Alan Diaz

Richard Gasquet, seeded 10th, beat No. 20 Benoit Paire in an all-French matchup, 6-3, 6-0. No. 14 Dominic Thiem defeated qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 6-2. No. 15 David Goffin eliminated No. 19 Viktor Troicki 6-1, 6-1.

STEVEN WINE