Top seed Serena Williams dropped the second set before bouncing back to beat compatriot Christina Mchale 6-3 5-7 6-2 in second-round action at the Miami Open in Florida on Thursday.
Mar 24, 2016; Key Biscayne, FL, USA; Serena Williams hits a backhand
against Christina McHale (not pictured) on day three of the Miami Open
at Crandon Park Tennis Center. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Key Biscayne, FL, USA; Serena Williams hits a forehand
against Christina McHale (not pictured) on day three of the Miami Open
at Crandon Park Tennis Center. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Key Biscayne, FL, USA; Serena Williams serves against
Christina McHale (not pictured) on day three of the Miami Open at
Crandon Park Tennis Center. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Key Biscayne, FL, USA; Serena Williams (L) shakes hands
with Christina McHale (R) after their match on day three of the Miami
Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
REUTERS: Top seed Serena Williams dropped the second set
before bouncing back to beat compatriot Christina Mchale 6-3 5-7 6-2 in
second-round action at the Miami Open in Florida on Thursday.
The eight-times winner of the event took more than two hours
to dispose of the world 56, but in the end notched her 14th consecutive
victory against an American opponent.
The last countrywoman to beat her was sister Venus in Montreal in 2014.
Playing in what almost amounts to a home game, Williams was
not in top form, making more than 40 unforced errors, but she finally
wore down Mchale in the third set.
"She's clearly capable of playing great tennis. She showed
it today," a relieved Williams, speaking of Mchale, told Tennis Channel
in an on-court interview.
"Miami is such a special place to me. I live so close to
here," continued the 21-times grand slam champion, who resides in nearby
Palm Beach Gardens.
In other women's second-round matches, third seed Agnieszka
Radwańska, of Poland, advanced with a 6-0 6-1 cakewalk over Frenchwoman
Alize Cornet.
"I'm just very happy with that win, maybe the score was not showing everything that was happening on the court," Radwanska said.
"But I think it was a great start and a couple of tight games at the beginning of both sets was the key."
The highest seed to be eliminated in day action was 11th-seeded Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic, who fell to
Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-2 6-3.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Larry Fine)
- Reuters
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