Ekaterina Makarova beat Petra Kvitova 6-4 6-4 to reach the fourth round at the Miami Open. Makarova went down 1-4 in the first set but she came back by winning five consecutive games to clinch the first set by 6-4. Makarova got a decisive break at 3-2 in the second set and held her serve in the next games to close out the match in one hour and a half.
Kvitova saved a break point at the start of the opening set before converting the first of her two break point chances to take a 2-0 lead. In the fifth game Kvitova rallied from 0-30 with an ace, a forehand winner and a service winner to hold her service game for 4-1. Makarova held her serve to love in the sixth game with a backhand drop-shot. In the seventh game Makarova rallied from 0-30 to get her first break of the match. In the eighth game Kvitova earned four break points but Makarova held her serve to draw level to 4-4. Makarova converted her second break point chance in the ninth game. In the 10th game Makarova went up 30-0 as Kvitova made two unforced errors. Kvitova drew level to 30-30 but faced a set point as she made another return error. Makarova converted her set point to close out the first set.
Makarova earned a break point in the first game of the second set but Kvitova held her service game. Both players went on serve until 2-2 apart from a break point saved by Makarova in the fourth game. Makarova broke serve to take a 3-2 lead, as Kvitova made two unforced errors. The next games went on serve until the 10th game when Makarova served out for the match after saving a break point.
Makarova has reached the Miami fourth round five times, including four of the last five years. She has a win-loss record of 0-4 in her previous four round of 16 matches in Miami.
Makarova has improved her win-loss record to 3-4 in her head-to-head matches against Kvitova. Kvitova, who reached the quarter finals at Indian Wells, has a win-loss record of 6-8 this year.
Makarova will face either Caroline Wozniacki or Elina Svitolina in the fourth round.
“Today was actually really tough to play, especially against Petra and in these conditions. It’s always tough to play against a lefty. I am just happy that I came through. She started unbelievable with a lot of winners. I just kept going and going, wanting to hit longer points and just being on the court and enjoying it”, said Makarova.
Svetlana Kuznetsova fought back from a set down to edge past Caroline Garcia 4-6 6-2 7-6 (8-6). The first set went on serve until 4-4 when Garcia got her first break before closing out the opening set in 35 minutes. Kuznetsova broke early in the second set and took a 3-1 lead. The Russian player got a double break to win the second set by 6-2.
Kuznetsova broke serve twice but Garcia clawed both breaks back. In the seventh game Kuznetsova got another break to take a 4-3 lead. Garcia broke back as Kuznetsova was serving for the match. In the tie-break Kuznetsova got a mini-break with a forehand passing shot to take a 6-4 lead but Garcia saved two match points. Kuznetsova closed out the match at 7-6 as Garcia made a forehand error.
Agnieszka Radwanska, who won the Miami title in 2012, beat Madison Brengle 6-3 6-2 on a very hot and humid day in one hour and 12 minutes in their first head-to-head match. Brengle broke serve at 1-1 in the first set. Radwanska did not convert a break point in the next game with a forehand return error to trail 1-3. In the sixth game Radwanska broke back to draw level to 3-3 with a forehand inside-out. The Polish star got another break for 5-3 and served out for the first set by winning her third consecutive game.
Radwanska broke again in the third game of the second set. Brengle broke straight back to draw level to 2-2. Brengle misfired shots on the important points allowing Radwanska to win four consecutive games with two more breaks of serve. Radwanska will face either Ana Ivanovic or Timea Bacsinszky in the fourth round.
Simona Halep beat Julia Georges 6-4 6-1 to improve her win-loss record in their head-to-head matches to 2-1. Georges broke serve to take a 3-0 lead. Halep broke back in the fifth game with a forehand winner. Halep broke after a long seventh game for 4-3. Halep had to save four break points before closing out the first set by 6-4. Georges won the first game of the second set but Halep fought back by winning six consecutive games to take the second set 6-1. Halep will face Heather Watson, who came back from a set down to beat Yanina Wickmayer 3-6 7-5 6-3.
