Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev power ahead at Miami Open

MIAMI GARDENS – A double-bagel victory would have boosted the confidence of any player, but third seed Coco Gauff said she was trying to forget about her 6-0, 6-0 win over Sofia Kenin as she headed into her last-32 meeting with Maria Sakkari at the Miami Open.

It worked for the 21-year-old as she beat the Greek 6-2, 6-4 on March 22 to become the youngest to reach the round of 16 in back-to-back Miami events since Garbine Muguruza (2012, 2013).

“I didn’t want to think about (her double-bagel win) because this is a one-every-couple-years type occurrence. I was just trying to put that match in the past and focus on today,” said American world No. 3 Gauff, who will face Poland’s Magda Linette next.

Meanwhile, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also reached the last 16 when Elena-Gabriela Ruse retired injured, while men’s top seed Alexander Zverev beat Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 6-4 to reach the third round.

Sabalenka, who arrived in Miami fresh off a defeat in last week’s Indian Wells final, wrapped up the first set 6-1 before Romanian Ruse was forced to retire with a right thigh injury. Up next for three-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka will be American defending champion Danielle Collins, who beat Swiss qualifier Rebeka Masarova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka prevailed 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-4 against American wild card Hailey Baptiste, and will play Italian sixth seed Jasmine Paolini, who advanced when Ons Jabeur retired with a left-leg injury while trailing 4-3 in the first set.

Osaka, who returned to action in January 2024 after a 15-month maternity break, said her fitness level is better now than it was in 2021 when she won the most recent of her four Grand Slam titles.

“I feel like I’m better than 2021. You know, Covid really set me back, I’m not going to lie. I was in the house doing nothing. But yeah, fitness-wise, definitely the best I’ve been in a couple of years, for sure,” said Osaka.

Chinese Olympic champion and ninth seed Zheng Qinwen also advanced with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) victory over American Taylor Townsend.

Local hope Ashlyn Krueger stunned 26th Leylah Fernandez of Canada to set up a meeting with Zheng.

On the men’s side, Zverev looked comfortable against British qualifier Fearnley as the German mixed a solid serve with dominance from the baseline while saving the only two break points he faced during the 74-minute match.

For Zverev, who lost at the first hurdle in Indian Wells, the win gave him a German record 145th Masters 1000 win, one more than Tommy Haas. He now faces Australia’s Jordan Thompson.

“Happy to kind of have improved a few things from Indian Wells where I didn’t feel well on the court. I didn’t feel like I played good. Hopefully, this is just the first of many matches for me here and I can continue playing well,” Zverev said.

Indian Wells champion Jack Draper crashed out 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3) to Czech Jakub Mensik, while Joao Fonseca beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-3.

“I knew there was going to be a lot of Brazilians. The crowd is super nice. It’s an honour seeing a lot of them cheering for me, saying my name every match I win,” said the 18-year-old Brazilian.

American Reilly Opelka rallied to beat Danish 11th seed Holger Rune 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) and with Draper, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev all losing this week there are no Indian Wells semi-finalists left in the men’s draw at Miami. REUTERS