Nadal, Serena sparkle in Miami openers
Monday, 30 March 2009
MIAMI, Mar 29 (AFP): World number ones Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams advanced to the third round of the ATP and WTA Miami hardcourt tournament Saturday with impressive straight-set triumphs.
Nadal dismissed 72nd-ranked Teimuraz Gabshvili of Russia 6-2, 6-2 while Williams, a two-time defending champion seeking her sixth title in eight years at this nine million-dollar event, beat fellow American Alexa Glatch 6-2, 6-3.
"I'm very happy," Nadal said. "I think Gabashvili didn't really play a bad game. He played hard and I think I played well."
Nadal seeks a third title this season after capturing the year's Grand Slam start at the Australian Open and last week's event at Indian Wells.
"I didn't practice as well as I did in Indian Wells," Nadal said. "More wind here. It's more difficult to play but it's important to get the rhythm right with the match."
Also advancing after first-round byes were reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams, the fifth seed, and British fourth seed Andy Murray
Williams defeated Israel's Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-3, to sustain hopes for an all-Williams semi-final while Murray, who reached last week's final at Indian Wells, dispatched 59th-rated Juan Monaco of Argentina 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Nadal, who made just 10 unforced errors to 32 by Gabshvili, will next face Portugal's Frederico Gil, who ousted Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-4. Nadal has found his form on hardcourts after his first Slam win on the surface in Melbourne.
Nadal dismissed 72nd-ranked Teimuraz Gabshvili of Russia 6-2, 6-2 while Williams, a two-time defending champion seeking her sixth title in eight years at this nine million-dollar event, beat fellow American Alexa Glatch 6-2, 6-3.
"I'm very happy," Nadal said. "I think Gabashvili didn't really play a bad game. He played hard and I think I played well."
Nadal seeks a third title this season after capturing the year's Grand Slam start at the Australian Open and last week's event at Indian Wells.
"I didn't practice as well as I did in Indian Wells," Nadal said. "More wind here. It's more difficult to play but it's important to get the rhythm right with the match."
Also advancing after first-round byes were reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams, the fifth seed, and British fourth seed Andy Murray
Williams defeated Israel's Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-3, to sustain hopes for an all-Williams semi-final while Murray, who reached last week's final at Indian Wells, dispatched 59th-rated Juan Monaco of Argentina 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Nadal, who made just 10 unforced errors to 32 by Gabshvili, will next face Portugal's Frederico Gil, who ousted Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-4. Nadal has found his form on hardcourts after his first Slam win on the surface in Melbourne.