Victoria Azarenka eased into the second round of the Miami Open with a comprehensive win over home favourite Cici Bellis, but British hopeful Katie Boulter was taken out.

The three-time champion was making her first appearance in the competition since winning the title in 2016 and she picked up where she left off with a 6-3 6-0 victory in little over an hour.

Pregnancy and a lengthy custody battle have largely kept the two-time Grand Slam winner away from the sport for an extended period but the 28-year-old seemed in good nick as she sent out a warning shot to the rest of the WTA Tour.

Recent Miami Open champions (WTA)

2017: Konta
2016: Azarenka
2015: S. Williams
2014: S. Williams
2013: S. Williams
2012: Radwanska
2011: Azarenka
2010: Clijsters
2009: Azarenka
2008: S. Williams

Her reward for the high-quality performance is an intriguing second-round clash with 2017 US Open runner-up Madison Keys, which will certainly be a major test of her credentials.

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Bellis piled the pressure on the Belarusian in the opening exchanges, crafting four break point opportunities, but Azarenka used all of her experience to hold firm for 1-1.

A powerful forehand saw the two-time Australian Open champion edge in front, but Bellis responded quickly to level at 2-2.

Her joy was short-lived, though, as a nightmare service game handed Azarenka the initiative once more and although she failed to serve out the first at 5-2, she soon broke again to march into a one-set lead.

Azarenka went from strength to strength, building a quick 3-0 lead over her clearly frustrated opponent and she secured a comfortable win.

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For Boulter, though, it was bad news as she fell to Hsieh Su-Wei in straight sets.

The British qualifier battled hard in a 4-6 5-7 defeat but she ultimately couldn’t find a way past her experienced opponent.

Hsieh got off to a strong start, breaking on her way to a 4-1 lead in the first set but the plucky Brit clawed her way back to 4-4 after a marathon seventh game.

However, the world No. 61 regained her composure to break again for a 6-4 lead.

A flurry of breaks littered the second set, but it was the 32-year-old who advanced to the next round.

More: Tennis

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METRO

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Victoria Azarenka eased into the second round of the Miami Open with a comprehensive win over home favourite Cici Bellis, but British hopeful Katie Boulter was taken out.

The three-time champion was making her first appearance in the competition since winning the title in 2016 and she picked up where she left off with a 6-3 6-0 victory in little over an hour.

Pregnancy and a lengthy custody battle have largely kept the two-time Grand Slam winner away from the sport for an extended period but the 28-year-old seemed in good nick as she sent out a warning shot to the rest of the WTA Tour.

Recent Miami Open champions (WTA)

2017: Konta
2016: Azarenka
2015: S. Williams
2014: S. Williams
2013: S. Williams
2012: Radwanska
2011: Azarenka
2010: Clijsters
2009: Azarenka
2008: S. Williams

Her reward for the high-quality performance is an intriguing second-round clash with 2017 US Open runner-up Madison Keys, which will certainly be a major test of her credentials.

AdvertisementAdvertisement

Bellis piled the pressure on the Belarusian in the opening exchanges, crafting four break point opportunities, but Azarenka used all of her experience to hold firm for 1-1.

A powerful forehand saw the two-time Australian Open champion edge in front, but Bellis responded quickly to level at 2-2.

Her joy was short-lived, though, as a nightmare service game handed Azarenka the initiative once more and although she failed to serve out the first at 5-2, she soon broke again to march into a one-set lead. (more…)