Miami: Serena Williams was pushed to three sets before she saw off fellow American Christina McHale to reach the third round of the Miami Open yesterday.
<img title="Serena Williams returns to Christina McHale during their Miami Open second round tie. Pic/AFP" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/26Serena-Williams.jpg" alt="Serena Williams returns to Christina McHale during their Miami Open second round tie. Pic/AFP" /> Serena Williams returns to Christina McHale during their Miami Open second round tie. Pic/AFP
McHale saved a match point in the second set, taking it 7-5 to force a decider, but Williams then broke serve twice to close out a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win in two hours and seven minutes.
Williams said in her on-court interview: &ldquo;She definitely started to fight harder, and is clearly capable of playing great tennis. She showed that today.
<img title="Rising star: Christina McHale" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/McHale.jpg" alt="Rising star: Christina McHale" /> Rising star: Christina McHale
&ldquo;Miami is such a special place for me. I grew up wandering the grounds like everyone here, and now I&rsquo;m playing here and it&rsquo;s always such a special moment.&rdquo;
Williams&rsquo; next opponent will be No 97 Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan, who upset 31st seed Daria Gavrilova 7-5, 6-3. Eleventh seed Lucie Safarova also bowed out losing&nbsp; 6-2, 6-3 to Yanina Wickmayer.
Andrea Petkovic was beaten 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-6 (7/2) by France&rsquo;s Caroline Garcia while Sam Stosur also suffered a three-set defeat, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to Germany&rsquo;s Julia Goerges.
Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska though brushed&nbsp; aside France&rsquo;s Alize Cornet 6-0, 6-1, while Simona Halep beat Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 7-5 and Petra Kvitova won 6-1, 6-4 against Irina Falconi.
Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic and Elina Svitolina had straight-sets wins over Vania King, Teliana Pereira and Zhang Shuai respectively.
Among the men, Sergiy Stakhovsky made it through with a 7-6, 7-5 win over Nicolas Jarry while Marcos Baghdatis beat Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-4 to set up a clash with the similarly combustible Nick Kyrgios.

American World No 1 all praise for compatriot, who stretched her to three sets before going down 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, in keenly-contested Round Two clash

Miami Open: Serena Williams defeats but hails compatriot Christina McHale

Miami Open: Sania Mirza advances, Rohan Bopanna bows out

American World No 1 all praise for compatriot, who stretched her to three sets before going down 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, in keenly-contested Round Two clash

Miami Open: Serena Williams defeats but hails compatriot Christina McHale

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Sports / Other Sports / Article / Miami Open: Serena Williams defeats but hails compatriot Christina McHale

Miami Open: Serena Williams defeats but hails compatriot Christina McHale

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast