Miami Open 2024: Anhelina Kalinina defeats Caroline Wozniacki in thriller, Katie Boulter’s opponent withdraw

Anhelina Kalinina came back from match point down against Caroline Wozniacki to triumph 5-7 7-5 6-4 and reach the third round at the Miami Open.

The encounter lasted three hours and 18 minutes as both players failed to make the most of opportunities to win the match.

Wozniacki won the fiercely-contested first set 7-5, before easing into a 3-0 lead in the second set.

It looked as if the former world No. 1 would quickly wrap up the match from then on, but Kalinina forced herself back into the encounter. She pushed to break Wozniacki, who saved 12 deuces as she took a 5-2 lead.

Kalinina finally broke Wozniacki to close the gap, before saving match point on her own serve and taking the battle to a deciding set.

Wozniacki appeared to pick up an injury as the match progressed, calling for a medical timeout shortly after the third set got underway.

Kalinina capitalised on her opponent’s struggles by taking a 5-3 lead. She failed to make the most of three match points, but finally triumphed on her fourth opportunity.

The Ukrainian will now take on either Paula Badosa or world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the next round.

Wozniacki was competing at the Miami Open for the 13th time, having won the WTA 1000 tournament in 2017.

The 33-year-old returned to tennis last year after a three-year absence, during which she had two children.

She has impressed during her comeback so far, reaching the round of 16 at the US Open and quarter-finals at Indian Wells.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Katie Boulter was awarded a walkover against Brenda Fruhvirtova after her 16-year-old opponent was forced to withdraw through illness.

Fruhvirtova began to struggle towards the end of the first set, despite a strong start which saw her take a 5-4 lead.

She was able to continue after receiving medical attention, but Boulter took advantage of her opponent’s dwindling energy and broke back for 5-5, eventually taking the set to a tie-break and winning.

Fruhvirtova then left the court briefly. When she returned for the second set she was quickly broken again by Boulter, and after calling a doctor on court for a second time, decided to withdraw from the match.

Boulter, the winner at the San Diego Open earlier this month, will progress to the round of 32 and play Beatriz Haddad Maia, who overcame Diane Parry 3-6 6-1 6-4 in her own second round match.

Taylor Townsend reached the Miami Open third round for the first time in seven years, upsetting Elise Mertens 6-2 6-2. The world No. 72 will now face either qualifier Clara Tauson or world No. 4 Elena Rybakina.

Anna Kalinskaya progressed with a 6-2 6-2 victory against Wang Xiyu, while Maria Sakkari overcame Yue Yuan by the same scoreline and Greet Minnen stunned Lesia Tsurenko 7-5 6-1.