Barty squeezes past Kucova while Swiatek downs Krejcikova at Miami Open

Two very strong players played at the Miami Open today with different results as Barty crashed out of the event she won in 2019 while Swiatek moved on.

Iga Swiatek was the first of the two to step onto the courts and she faced a very tough player in Barbora Krejcikova. The Czech player has been playing sensational tennis lately on the very fast courts of Dubai and that level did not translate to the slower courts of Miami. She struggled in the first round a bit and her struggles were evident early. The Polish player jumped out to a 5-1 lead but could not end it on her serve.

Krejcikova was able to pull the double break back but lost her serve once again while trying to make it 5-5. The 2nd set was much stronger from Swiatek who settled back into her opening rhythm and closed it out with 6-2. A very strong showing from Iga who should thrive in the slower courts of Miami. 

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After her, we saw the defending champion Ashleigh Barty play for the first time since her disappointing Australian Summer swing. It was a bit of a shaky start by Barty who lost her serve in the 2nd service game but pulled it right back in the next one. She would win the next two games as well to win the opening set 6-4. The 2nd set was a bit harder for Barty who opened the set with a break.

Unfortunately, she gave it back in the next game and after that, she struggled to create chances. Late in the set, she would have break points but Kucova held on and actually won the set 6-4. It was an immense confidence boost for the Slovak who continued to play well in the 3rd set taking a 4-1 lead. At 5-4 for Kucova Barty managed to carve out a break point and converted it to make it 5-5.

The Slovakian player completely collapsed afterward allowing Barty to win the next two games and advance to the next round. A very narrow victory for Barty who almost crashed out of the event but moves on due to a last second comeback.

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🇵🇱 @iga_swiatek through to Round 3 on her #MiamiOpen main draw debut! Beats Krejcikova 6-4, 6-2 and will play Konjuh next ➡️

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