Daniil Medvedev kicked off his Miami Masters title defense with a win after convincingly beating Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 6-2. The match lasted an hour and 20 minutes.
The third-seeded Russian made a total of three breaks on the Hungarian's serve to earn a place in the third round, where 30th seed Cameron Norrie awaits. The Briton overcame Italy's Flavio Cobolli in three sets.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannick Sinner, who are ranked number 1 and number 2 in the scheme, continue to advance in the tournament. Indian Wells champion Alcaraz dropped just three games to compatriot Roberto Carballes Baena, while Sinner saw off Italy's Andrea Vavasori also in straight sets. Last year's finalist Sinner face Talon Griekspoor, while Alcaraz will face an intriguing challenge in Gael Monfils.
Nos. 4, 7 and 8 in the men's race Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev and Hubert Hurkacz, respectively, also started with wins. Out of the race, however, are 10th, 12th and 13th Stefanos Tsitsipas, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul respectively. A second win was achieved by the veteran Andy Murray, who after Matteo Berretini knocked down the 29th seeded Tomas Martin Echeverry - the Argentine, who earlier stopped the British at the Australian Open. Murray will play Tomas Mahac of the Czech Republic in the next round.
On the women's side, second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who recently lost her ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov, crashed out early in the third round after losing to Anhelina Kalinina 4-6, 6-1, 1-6. Sabalenka started the match with a break, but then her opponent came back in the set and eventually won 6-4. A strong set followed for the Belarusian before taking just a game in the decisive third set. For Kalinina, a match with Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva is coming up.
No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek got off to a flying start and took out Italy's Camila Giorgi 6-1, 6-1. The 2022 champion will play Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic in her next match - it will be the third meeting between the two since the start of the season, with the record 1-1 - Swiatek won in Indian Wells but the young Czech beat her earlier in Australian Open.
Last year's finalist Elena Rybakina recorded a hard-fought victory over Taylor Townsend in three sets. Out of the competition is sixth seed Ons Jabeur, who lost to Russian Elina Avanesyan in three sets. /BGNES
