Sakkari reaches Miami third round, Wozniacki loses in thriller

Maria Sakkari of Greece was back to her winning ways just days after losing the Indian Wells final as she edged out China's Yuan Yue 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday to reach the third round of the Miami Open. Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniaki of Denmark was eliminated by Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina 5-7, 7-5, 6-4. Fourth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan had to fend off determined Danish qualifier Clara Tauson 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to advance. 

Eighth seed Sakkari, putting the 6-4, 6-0 California drubbing at the hands of Poland's world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in Sunday's final in the rearview mirror, was all business after having failed at the first hurdle in her last two visits to Miami. Across the net, Yuan, who rose to a career-high of 31st place with a quarterfinal run at Indian Wells, posed a potentially tricky first test for the Greek. But the 28-year-old passed with flying colors, breaking Yuan five times in the 79-minute clash.  

Also on Thursday, Kalinina saved match point and came back from a set down to topple Wozniacki.

Trailing 2-5 in the second set, Kalinina appeared to be heading for the exit but with nothing to lose, she came out swinging her racket to break the Dane as she served for the match.

The danger was far from over for Kalinina who faced match point on her own serve but stayed alive with a fearless forehand winner to cut the deficit to 5-4. She ended up winning five games in a row to bag the second set. With the momentum now in her corner, the 27-year-old poured on the pressure in the third set as she nosed ahead 5-3.

Wozniaki, who returned to competition last year, would also not go down without a fight as she survived three match points for the hold, leaving Kalinina to serve for the match. Kalinina then needed four match points to complete the comeback, securing victory on her third ace of the contest.

(With input from Reuters)