MIAMI, March 20, 2018

Tennis action has returned to Florida’s hard courts for the 2018 Miami Open presented by Itaú, which kicked off on Monday with the first round of the qualifying matches held at Tennis Center at Crandon Park.

In the women’s draw, former World No. 9 Andrea Petkovic emerged victorious from the all-German-affair with 2013 Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki. The No. 13 seed benefited from the retirement of her compatriot leading 4-6, 6-3, 3-1. The match lasted one hour and 40 minutes when Lisicki was forced to stop playing due to a left foot injury. Petkovic will next take on Vera Lapko of Belarus.

Another former Wimbledon finalist, Eugenie Bouchard, who has fallen outside the top 100 in the WTA rankings since reaching a career-high fifth in 2014, opened her Miami campaign with 6-2, 6-2 victory over US-American wild card entry Allie Kiick. The 24-year-old Canadian struck seven aces, winning 75 per cent of her first service points to prevail after one hour and seven minutes. Next up for Bouchard will be Rebecca Peterson of Sweden.

In the men’s draw top seed Roberto Carballés Baena of Spain fell to Darian King 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. The World No. 172 from Barbados won 53 per cent of the total points played to prevail after two hours and 14 minutes. King will next take on US-American Mackenzie McDonald, who fought past Canadian young gun Felix Auger-Aliassime 3-6, 6-2, 7-6.

Photo Gallery (by Brigitte Urban):