TWO title contenders at the 2020 WTA Tour’s Miami Open fantasy tennis tournament survived first set deficits to come back and win in three sets. Second seed Karolina Pliskova was stunned by unseeded German Julia Goerges, dropping the first set to love before winning 12 of the last 15 games to run away with a 0-6 6-2 6-2 win. Joining her in the fourth round after a equal scare was ninth seed Japanese star, Naomi Osaka who won 6-7 6-0 6-2, coming back from dropping the first set in a tiebreaker against unseeded American, Jennifer Brady, to win 12 of the last 14 games on her way to victory.

The other three set match also saw the eventual winner drop the first set, with 26th seed Qiang Wang come from behind to produce the upset of the day and knock out fifth seed Ukrainian, Elina Svitolina. In a match that lasted two hours and 46 minutes, the Chinese hopeful moved through to the final 16 to face Ekaterina Alexandrova. Indian Wells finalist, Aryna Sabalenka made her way into the fourth round in much easier fashion, winning 6-1 6-2 over 27th seed Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova. Fourth seed Belgian, Kiki Bertens raced to a 6-3 6-1 victory over the other Chinese hope left in the draw in 29th seed, Saisai Zheng, while 19th seed Elise Mertens was the other player to beat her lower ranked opponent.

Mertens won in straight sets, 6-4 6-4 over the unseeded Danielle Collins, who joined the procession of exiting Americans on day five with Brady and 12th seed Madison Keys bundled out of the Miami Open title race. Keys lost to a red-hot Alexandrova 6-2 6-3, while young star Dayana Yastremska finalised the bottom half of the Round of 16 with a 6-1 6-3 upset over 11th seed, Petra Kvitova. The win was huge for Yastermska’s confidence who now takes on the highest ranked Czech in Pliskova.

In tomorrow’s Round of 32 matches, an all-American clash between Serena Williams and Amanda Anisimova promises to be a highlight for the home fans, while young guns, Elena Rybakina and Maria Sakkari do battle as another match to watch.

ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[2] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) defeated Julia Goerges (GER) 0-6 6-2 6-2
[4] Kiki Bertens (BEL) defeated [29] Saisai Zheng (CHN) 6-3 6-1
[26] Qiang Wang (CHN) defeated [5] Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4-6 6-3 6-2
[7] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) defeated [27] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 6-1 6-2
[9] Naomi Osaka (JPN) defeated Jennifer Brady (USA) 6-7 6-0 6-2
[22] Dayana Yastremska (UKR) defeated [11] Petra Kvitova (CZE) 6-1 6-3
[24] Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) defeated [12] Madison Keys (USA) 6-2 6-3
[19] Elise Mertens (BLE) defeated Danielle Collins (USA) 6-4 6-4