Fernandez takes early exit in Miami

MANILA, Philippines – Leylah Fernandez suffered another early setback in a WTA 1000 event, bowing to a tall Karolina Muchova, 4-6, 6-7(3), in the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium Thursday (Friday, Manila time).

Gone were her comeback exploits that have marked her rise to tennis fame following her US Women’s Open finals run, falling short again after forcing a tiebreaker in the second set of their Round of 64 clash.

The World No. 22 Fernandez, ranked 18th in the event, took the first point but dropped five of the next six as the unseeded 5-11 Czech, who is ranked No. 74 in the world, imposed her will and power to pile up points and bundle out the 19-year-old Fil-Canadian.

Fernandez also made an early exit in the season’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, last January, and bowed in the Round of 16 in the recent BNP Paribas Open.

She, however, defended her Abierto GNP Seguros, a WTA 250 event, crown in Mexico early this month.

But US Women’s Open champion Emma Raducanu was also ambushed in the upset-marred day as WTA doubles world No. 1 Katerina Siniakova repulsed the No. 11 Briton, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, to barge into the Round of 32.

Siniakova trailed 1-3 in the second set and by a break twice in the decider. But she worked her way back into the game then kept the momentum of her fiery comeback and racked up four straight games to stun Raducanu, who never reached match point.

In other reversals, unranked Anna Kalinskaya swept No. 6 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-3; Alison Riske of the US toppled No. 31 Alize Cornet of France, 6-2, 6-2; Japanese former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka booted out No. 13 Angelique Kerber of Germany, 6-2, 6-3; Vera Zvonareva ripped No. 19 Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia, 6-3, 6-2; and Kaia Kanepi of Estonia upended No. 32 Sara Tormo of Spain, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.