Serena Outlasts McHale To Advance in Miami
In a battle of Americans at the Miami Open on Thursday, it was world number one who outlasted her compatriot Christina McHale 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 to reach the tournament’s third round.
Serena secured two breaks in the first set to take the opener, and built a 5-4 lead in the second set where she had a chance to serve out the match.
But McHale hung tough and saved a match point in that game before getting the break back to even things at 5-5. After holding serve, McHale would break yet again to take the second set and push the match into a deciding third set.
In the third set though, Serena didn’t relinquish anything on her serve. She won 93 percent of her first serve points and saved both of the break points she faced, securing two of her own to roll in the decider and advance.
“She definitely started to fight harder, and is clearly capable of playing great tennis,” Serena said of McHale afterwards. “She showed it today.”
In the third round, Serena will take on Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan. Diyas knocked out Daria Gavrilova 7-5, 6-3 on Thursday.
Joining Serena in the third-round is fellow American Madison Brengle, who moved past 28th seed Anna Schmiedlova 7-5, 6-4. Brengle will take on third-seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland next. Radwanska steamrolled France’s Alize Cornet 6-0, 6-1 in her match on Thursday.
Heather Watson of Great Britain steamrolled past American Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-0 to set up a third round showdown with Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer. Playing with a heavy heart, Wickmayer rolled past 11th seed Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-3.
Fifth-seed Simona Halep, eighth-seed Petra Kvitova, 16th seed Ana Ivanovic and 23rd seed Caroline Wozniacki were other notable winners in Miami on Thursday.
