SLOANE Stephens won her first match against a top 400 opponent for the year, joining a number of Americans in the second round of the 2020 WTA Tour’s Miami Open fantasy tennis tournament. The out-of-form talent came from behind to defeat Japan’s Nao Hibino 6-7 7-5 6-3, joining four other United States representatives in the Round of 64 and making it another good day for the home nation.

While three Americans fell at the first hurdle – wildcards Madison Brengle and Ann Li, and Taylor Townsend – Stephens, Jessica Pegula, Lauren Davis, qualifier Christina McHale and wildcard Venus Williams all won through to the next stage of the tournament. Pegula had a fight on her hands against German Anna-Lena Friedsam before fending her off 7-5 4-6 7-5 to make it through to the Round of 64. McHale had a similarly challenging battle against the in-form Tunisian Ons Jabeur, bouncing back from a disappointing second set to post a 7-6 2-6 6-4 victory. Davis and Williams won through against Frenchwoman, Fiona Ferro and Russian, Veronika Kudermetova respectively in identical scorelines of 6-3 6-4.

It was an equally promising day for the two Latvian representatives with Anastasija Sevastova overpowering Li in a tight one to win 6-1 6-7 6-2, while Jelena Ostapenko knocked out Czech, Katerina Siniakova 6-3 7-5. The match of the day belonged to Laura Siegemund and Caroline Garcia with the former getting up in three hours and 26 minutes, fending off the latter, 4-6 7-6 6-3. The German moved into the next round in what was a see-sawing come-from-behind victory and one that the fans throughly enjoyed. It was one of a number of disappointing results for the french with Ferro and compatriot, Alize Cornet also bowing out as Italian Camila Giorgi got the better of the latter, 6-1 6-4. Other winners on day two of the tournament were qualifiers, Anastasia Potapova and Aliaksandra Sasnovich, China’s Yafan Wang, Poland’s Magda Linette, Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro and Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic.

Tomorrow’s Round of 64 action includes a number of highly anticipated clashes including 12th seed Brit, Johanna Konta going up against United States’ Danielle Collins, as well as young guns, Dayana Yastremska and Leylah Fernandez going at it.

ROUND OF 128 RESULTS:

[WC] Venus Williams (USA) defeated Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) 6-3 6-4
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) defeated Katerina Siniakova (CZE) 6-3 7-5
[Q] Anastasia Potapova (RUS) defeated Tamara Zidasek (SLO) 6-2 6-4
Camila Giorgi (ITA) defeated Alize Cornet (FRA) 6-1 6-4
Sloane Stephens (USA) defeated Nao Hibino (JPN) 6-7 7-5 6-3
[Q] Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) defeated [WC] Shuai Peng (CHN) 6-3 6-4
Magda Linette (POL) defeated Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 6-3 6-0
Yafan Wang (CHN) defeated [Q] Monica Puig (PUE) 6-3 6-4
Jessica Pegula (USA) defeated [Q] Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER) 7-5 4-6 7-5
Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) defeated [WC] Madison Brengle (USA) 7-5 6-1
[Q] Christina McHale (USA) defeated Ons Jabeur (TUN) 7-6 2-6 6-4
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) defeated Jil Teichmann (SUI) 6-2 7-6
Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) defeated [WC] Ann Li (USA) 6-1 6-7 6-2
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) defeated Taylor Townsend (USA) 2-6 6-4 6-2
Laura Siegemund (GER) defeated Caroline Garcia (FRA) 4-6 7-6 6-3
Lauren Davis (USA) defeated Fiona Ferro (FRA) 6-3 6-4