Zheng Qinwen reaches Miami Open last 16 with win over Taylor Townsend

Zheng Qinwen of China defeated the host nation's Taylor Townsend 6-1, 7-6(3) in the women's singles third round at the Miami Open in Miami, Florida, on Saturday, advancing to the round of 16 and matching her best performance at the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournament.

The last time Zheng faced Townsend, the Chinese star squandered a one-set lead on the way to bowing out in the Miami Open qualifiers in 2019. But she displayed solid form from beginning of their latest meeting, and built a 5-0 lead after the first 17 minutes. Although her American opponent held in the sixth game to avoid a bagel, Zheng clinched the set comfortably to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

The second set was much closer, as neither player could convert a break. Zheng held in the 10th and 12th games to send the frame into a tiebreak. The No. 9 seed jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in the extra session, and withstood a mini-rally from Townsend to set up a last 16 clash with another home hope, Ashlyn Krueger.

On the men's side, Alexander Zverev eased past British qualifier Jacob Fearnley, as the German mixed solid serving with dominance from the baseline, while saving the only two break points he faced, to put away the 74-minute match 6-2, 6-4.

For Zverev, who lost at the first hurdle in Indian Wells, the win gave him a German record 145th Masters 1000 win, one more than Tommy Haas. His next opponent is Australia's Jordan Thompson.

"Happy to kind of have improved a few things from Indian Wells, where I didn't feel well on the court. I didn't feel like I played good," Zverev told reporters. "Hopefully this is just the first of many matches for me here and I can continue playing well."

(With input from Reuters)