Google News Miami Open: Iga Swiatek dominates Viktorija Golubic to reach 3R; becomes world no. 1
by ABBEY JOHNSON
World no. 2 Iga Swiatek defeated Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-0 in their second-round match at the Miami Open on Friday. The Pole needed to win the opening round to ensure the world no. 1 ranking for herself at the end of the WTA 1000 event following Ashleigh Barty’s decision to retire and take herself off the rankings.
Swiatek was dominant throughout the 74-minute encounter, converting six of the nine break points she had on the Swiss’ serve. She also won 80% points on return on Golubic’s second serves. In comparison, the 20-year-old saved eight of the nine break points she faced while winning 67% and 50% off her first and second serves respectively.
In the third round, Swiatek will play Madison Brengle who upset 29th seed, Liudmila Samsonova.
Miami Open: Paula Badosa moves on
Fifth seed Paula Badosa, who also had a chance of becoming the world no. 1 post Miami, also advanced to the round-of-32.
The Spaniard won against Marie Bouzkova, 7-5, 7-5 in two hours and three minutes in their second-round clash. Badosa will play Yulia Putintseva next. The Kazakh won against lucky loser, Lesia Tsurenko, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. The biggest story of the day apart from Swiatek’s new milestone was Linda Fruhvirtova’s upset over Elise Mertens.
The Czech teenager ousted the 20th-seeded Belgian, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 in two hours and a minute. After the match, Fruhvirtova shared, “It's definitely one of my best tournaments so far, I think the best one," Fruhvirtova told the press.
"I never played against a Top 25 player, and it's unbelievable. I still can't believe it. But I'm so happy I got the win here. I worked really hard for this, and I'm enjoying it. I was like, 'Just stay focused until the match is over'..
She had some chances at the beginning of the third set to break me. But it's unbelievable. It's like, '(Did) that really happen or am I just dreaming?' The feeling is amazing, you know. These are the moments we do it for”.
Fruhvirtova will play thrice-former titlist, Victoria Azarenka next in the Miami Open. The 12th seed came through a tough encounter against Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5) in two hours and 45 minutes in their round-of-64 meeting.
