WTA Miami: Bianca Andreescu ousts Angelique Kerber. Wozniacki wins
The 13th seed Caroline Wozniacki is through to the last 16 in Miami after a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6 win over a qualifier Monica Niculescu in two hours and eight minutes. Niculescu defeated Garbine Muguruza in the previous round and played well against the Dane too, creating 15 break points and converting only three, missing the opportunity to put Caroline under more pressure. On the other hand, a former world no. 1 seized her chances beautifully, converting all four break points she earned to cross the finish line without spending more time on the court. Wozniacki broke in the fourth game of the match, cementing the break after saving four break points in the next game and wasting a set point at 5-3, allowing Monica to grab the fifth break chance and reduce the deficit to 5-4.
Her efforts were in vain, though, suffering a break at 15 in game ten to hand the opener to Caroline who broke at the start of the second set as well for a comfortable lead. Niculescu pulled the break back in the very next game, squandering a couple of chances in game five as well before Wozniacki broke her in game eight to serve for the match. With her back pushed against the wall, Monica played one more great return game to erase the deficit, reaching the tie break that Caroline conquered 7-4 to move into the last 16 and avoid spending more time on the court. The 21st seed Anett Kontaveit needed two hours and 27 minutes to upend Ajla Tomljanovic who won five points more overall thanks to that second set.
Kontaveit got broken seven times and she pulled five breaks back, controlling the scoreboard in the decider and prevailing 7-4 in the tie break to extend her run and enter the fourth round. The 7th seed Kiki Bertens lost the opening set against Viktoria Kuzmova before shifting into a higher gear, scoring a 3-6, 6-0 6-1 win in an hour and 24 minutes, firing 14 aces and saving six out of seven break points to mount the pressure on the Slovak after a slower opening set. Kiki lost just 13 points on serve in sets two and three, something Kuzmova couldn't reach even if she had played her best tennis, sailing into the last 16 and hoping for more of the same against Ashleigh Barty.
In the repeat of the Indian Wells final, the teenage sensation Bianca Andreescu toppled Angelique Kerber 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, with the German calling her the 'Drama queen' during the cold handshake! This was the 31st win for an 18-year-old in 34 matches so far in 2019, crossing the finish line after a stellar performance in the deciding set where she lost just seven points on serve, breaking Kerber twice in a row to rattle off five straight games and extend the winning run that propels her closer to the place in the top-20.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Wm0L7Y
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