Mboko strikes thirty-two winners in commanding Miami opener

Victoria Mboko defeated Anna Blinkova 6–2, 6–0 to reach the Miami Open third round for the first time. The tenth seed struck thirty-two winners and four aces during a dominant opening match that was delayed and then interrupted by rain.

After the players exchanged early breaks, a downpour sent them off court. Mboko returned composed, losing only one further game in the opener before winning the last eight games of the match, using powerful hitting to keep Blinkova under pressure.

The Canadian converted six of seven break chances and won more than seventy percent of points returning first serves. In only her second Miami appearance, she advanced to a first meeting with Anastasia Zakharova, who had upset Anna Kalinskaya in the same round.