Miami Open: Katie Boulter through to third round as Dan Evans fights back to defeat Lorenzo Sonego
Katie Boulter through to third-round meeting with 11th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia on Saturday with Dan Evans set to play Christopher Eubanks; you can watch the Miami Open, plus over 80 tournaments a year, including the US Open, exclusively live on Sky Sports Tennis
Friday 22 March 2024 06:51, UK
British No 1 Katie Boulter made it through to the third round of the Miami Open after her teenage opponent Brenda Fruhvirtova retired with illness.
Boulter came into the match as a seed, having reached a career-high No 27 earlier this month, and she progressed after her 16-year-old opponent Fruhvirtova retired from their match in the middle of a rain delay with the score at 7-6 (5) 1-0 15-0.
Wild card Fruhvirtova appeared to be struggling with the heat, headed to her chair before being consoled by Boulter.
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The young Czech, who was short on tennis coming into the tournament having been under the weather, called the doctor for the first time leading by a break of serve at 5-4 in the opening set.
Boulter eventually took the set in a tie-break and had broken to start the second before Fruhvirtova called the doctor again and then decided she could not continue.
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She is not the first player to struggle in Miami this week, with Frenchman Arthur Cazaux collapsing on court during a qualifying match, while Matteo Berrettini looked close to fainting against Andy Murray on Wednesday.
Boulter had made a shaky start and admitted she found it hard to concentrate amid her opponent's difficulties, telling Sky Sports' Laura Robson: "I actually think it's one of the toughest things to do.
"Halfway through the match I'm seeing her coaches telling her to pull and then she's not, so obviously there's a lot going on. One minute she's struggling to put the ball in the court and the next she's running 10 shots side to side so it's a tough mental game.
"For me it was challenging today and I probably wasn't the kindest to myself but we live and learn."
Henman: It wasn't pretty for Boulter but she's made big strides
"It's about finding a way to get the victory. People talk about winning ugly, and it wasn't pretty at times for Boulter," Tim Henman told Sky Sports Tennis.
"She lost her first service game, and you felt she was always playing catch-up.
"She didn't panic, she had to fight hard, she had to keep her emotions in check, but she got the win and is through to the third round.
"I bet she'll play better in the next round.
"There's many ways to beat people, and sometimes to stay in rallies and extend them is the way.
"Boulter isn't scared to take the ball on when she has the opportunity. Her athletic ability has improved so much.
"She's made big strides. The offensive game will always be there, but the stronger she is in defence will be another string to her bow."
Huge win for Evans
Dan Evans defeated Italian Lorenzo Sonego for the first time in four attempts to post a much-needed win.
Things did not look promising for the 33-year-old, who had won only two of his eight matches in 2024, when Sonego raced to the first set but Evans dug in and turned the match around to claim a 1-6 6-3 6-4 victory.
The British No 3 had lost to Sonego in Miami last year and at the Australian Open in January, and he let out a huge roar of delight at the end.
"He was way better than me and I wasn't really moving him," said Evans. "I just made up my mind to start coming in and trying to dictate and see where it got me.
"I served very well, which made it a lot easier. I'm really happy. It's been a tragic year so far. It's only tennis, though."
Eighth seed Maria Sakkari, runner-up to Iga Swiatek in Indian Wells last weekend, continued her good form with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Yuan Yue but Caroline Wozniacki lost out 5-7 7-5 6-4 to Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina.
In the first round of the men's event, former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori, playing just his fifth tournament since 2021 and first of the season, was beaten 6-3 6-4 by Sebastian Ofner.
Meanwhile, Andy Murray followed up his singles victory over Matteo Berrettini on Wednesday by teaming up with American Sebastian Korda to beat Britain's Julian Cash and Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 7-5 6-4 in the first round of the doubles.
Croft: Just what the doctor ordered
"It felt like just what the doctor ordered to be honest with you," she Annabel Croft on Sky Sports Tennis.
"He was absolutely down and out after the first set. This is more of the same of what his year's been about, but he's such a competitor, such a fighter and he started to come forward, take chances, take risks and it's incredible how momentum shifts into the psychology of the opponent. They can feel the presence of their opponent coming.
"He did win more of the important points when it really mattered. A terrific victory."
Friday at the Miami Open
Aryna Sabalenka, Andy Murray, Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie, Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek and Daniil Medvedev are all playing on a bumper day of action.
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