By: Christopher Menendez
Defending champion Serena Williams beats fellow American Christina McHale, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. McHale had a strong second set but was unable to keep up in the third set.
Julia Goerges overcame the 26th seed of The Miami Open Samantha Stosur, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. In other WTA news, Caroline Garcia beat Andrea Petkovic, 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(2).
American Men’s doubles team John Isner and Nicholas Monroe advance to the second round after winning against Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock (USA), 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Today Spain swept the men’s and women’s doubles categories with three wins. Nadal and Verdasco beat Italian Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-4. Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez beat Americans Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-3, 10-6.
Representing Spain in the WTA doubles was Anabel Medina Garrigues and Arantxa Parra Santonja who beat Katalin Marosi and Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 6-4.
WTA 5th ranked Simona Halep beat Darla Kasatkina 3-6, 5-7. Halep is the top ranked Romanian player of the four women in the current top 100. Halep advanced to the semifinals at Sydney earlier this year and advanced to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells.
Marcos Baghdatis beats qualifier Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-4. Baghdatis experienced an extended singles winning streak at the Davis Cup.
#NextGen ATP player Elias Ymer lost to Federico Delbonis 1-6, 6-4, 3-6. Ymer was one of nine teenagers in the main draw.
About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2016 Miami Open will be played March 21-April 3 at the Crandon Tennis Center in Miami. The two-week combined event is owned and operated by IMG. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the WTA calendar, and features the top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world. The tournament is widely regarded as the most glamorous on the ATP and WTA calendars because of its exotic Miami location, thriving nightlife, five-star hotels and restaurants, beautiful weather and beaches, and its celebrity appeal. For ticket information, call +1.305.442.3367 or visit www.miamiopen.com.
About Itaú
Itau is the largest Latin America privately owned bank, with approximately 95,000 employees and operations in 20 countries throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. Itaú’s relationship with sport goes back to the 1970s, when Itaú first sponsored the Itaú Tennis Cup in Brazil in 1970. Itaú has been a sponsor of the Miami Open for the last six years, and also sponsors the Rio Open, the only combined ATP/WTA event in South America. Itaú also supports the Brazilian Women’s Tennis Circuit, only female professional tournament in South America, certified by the Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), as well as the Tennis Institute Training Center, responsible for the development of young, new talent.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion and media operating in more than 25 countries around the world. IMG’s businesses include Events Media, College, Golf, Tennis, Performance and IMG Academy, Fashion, Models, Clients, Licensing, Joint Ventures, and creative management agency Art + Commerce. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, the world’s leading entertainment and media agency. Together, the companies offer an unparalleled client roster; strategic partnerships with sponsors and brands; and marquee assets across sports, entertainment, events, music and fashion.
