KATIE STILL NOT MISSING A BEAT
Boulter bolts away from Haddad Maia in Miami
KATIE BOULTER continued her stellar start to 2024 with a dominant victory over Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia to reach the fourth round of the Miami open.
The British No.1 was barely troubled by the 11th seed, who she beat last month on her way to the San Diego title, as she wrapped up a 6-2 6-3 victory in 90 minutes.
The 27-year-old will meet WTA Tour veteran Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round after the Belarusian, seeded 27, saw off China’s Zheng Qinwen, the world No.7, 6-4 7-5.
Meanwhile, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka went down 6-4 1-6 6-1 to Anhelina Kalinina in what was her second match following the death of her former boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov.
Koltsov died at the age of 42 last week in what police described as an “apparent suicide” in Miami.
Sabalenka smashed her racquet in frustration after handing Kalinina the match at centre court.
“It’s always tough to play on big stages against these top players,” said Kalinina, who will play Kazakhstani Yulia Putintseva in the next round.
“Today was really tough with nerves but I managed in the tough moments to deal with it.”
Ninth seed Jelena Ostapenko was bundled out in straight sets by Anna Kalinskaya.
American Coco Gauff progressed to the last 16 with a 6-4-6-0 victory over Oceane Dodin.
US Open champion Gauff fell a break of serve behind and trailed 4-2 in the opening set.
But the 20-year-old produced an emphatic response, winning the next 10 games without reply to seal victory in just over an hour.
“I was just trying to play aggressive,” Gauff said. “She is the type of player who hits some big shots.
“She doesn’t give much margins so you have to weather the storm a little bit.”
Third seed Gauff awaits French 23rd seed Caroline Garcia or Japan’s four-time major winner Naomi Osaka.
Gauff has never won the Miami Open, a tournament held at Hard Rock Stadium that she considers her hometown event due to being born about 45 miles up the road in Delray Beach.
“It would be really cool to win here at home,” Gauff said.
“I think the best part about winning here is just being able to drive home with the trophy and not have to fly and pack.
“It is something I do want to do, that’s for sure.”
Elsewhere in the women’s draw, American fifth seed Jessica Pegula beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 7-5 6-4 to set up a meeting with 22-year-old compatriot Emma Navarro.
No.20 seed Navarro saved four of seven break points during a 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 victory over No. 12 Jasmine Paolini of Italy.
Russian 10th seed Daria Kasatkina is out of the tournament after losing 7-5 6-4 against Romanian Sorana Cirstea.