Errani downs Bencic in Miami Open first round

Published by PA

Belinda Bencic's tricky return from injury continued in Miami. Photo: Getty Images
Belinda Bencic crashed out of the Miami Open in the first round as her difficult start to 2017 continued.

Kirsten Flipkens was made to work hard to move into the second round of the WTA’s Miami Open.

The world No.85 Belgian lost the opening set 6-3 to American Jennifer Brady but rallied to advance with a 3-6 6-3 7-5 triumph.

Italian Sara Errani beat Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 6-3 4-6 6-3 and will take on China’s Shuai Zhang for a place in round three.

Germany’s Carina Witthoeft made swift progress with a 6-3 6-3 victory over American wildcard Nicole Gibbs.

Ying-Ying Duan of China secured a second-round match against world No.1 Angelique Kerber by defeating German Laura Siegemund 7-6 (8-6) 6-3.

Beatriz Haddad Maia will play 11th-seed Venus Williams in round two after the Brazilian’s opponent Lesia Tsurenko of the Ukraine, the world No.41, retired when 3-2 down in the first set.

Svetlana Kuznetsova, the world No.7, is set to meet Mandy Minella after the Luxembourg player came through in three sets against Czech Kristyna Pliskova 7-6 (7-4) 5-7 7-5.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka secured a match with third-seed Simona Halep after her 6-2 6-3 win against Kristina Kucova of Slovakia.

Shuai Peng was awarded her first-round contest when Montenegro player Danka Kovinic retired at the start of the second set, with the opening set going the way of the Chinese player 6-2.

Johanna Larsson of Sweden booked a second-round contest against Czech Barbora Strycova after beating Romania’s Monica Niculescu 6-3 6-1.

In other first-round matches, Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko accounted for Spaniard Paula Badosa Gibert 6-4 7-5, Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland defeated Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 3-6 6-1 6-1 and Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena beat Natalia Vikhlyantseva of Russia 7-5 6-1.

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