Miami Open 2023: Andrey Rublev enters last 32 with dominant win over JJ Wolf

Rublev hit a whopping 16 aces in the match and did not commit a single double fault. His win percentage on the first and second serves were 69% and 67% respectively.

Andrey Rublev in a file photo. (Image Credits: twitter)
By Nilavro Ghosh | Mar 24, 2023 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Sixth seed Andrey Rublev recorded a strong start to the 2023 Miami Open campaign with a comfortable 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 win over home favourite JJ Wolf in the round of 64. Rublev hit a whopping 16 aces in the match and did not commit a single double fault. His win percentage on the first and second serves were 69% and 67% respectively. Rublev returned two out of seven available break points and won 10 service games. On the other hand, JJ Wolf hit seven aces, committed three double faults and only converted one out of six available break points.

Rublev was eliminated in the last 16 of the Indian Wells by British tennis player Cameron Norrie. The Russian would have wanted to go the distance in the tournament but it was not meant to be. Still, he had some decent performances in the competition, defeating the likes of Ugo Humbert and Jiri Lehecka. The Russian reached the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships earlier in March where he was beaten by compatriot Daniil Medvedev.

Elena Rybakina defeats Anna Kalinskaya in Miami

Reigning Wimbledon and Indian Wells champion took a step closer to achieving the sunshine double this season as she beat Anna Kalinskaya 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the round of 64 of the 2023 Miami Open. Ryabkina had let a set and a 4-1 lead slip but recovered quite well to win the match and set up a last 32 tie clash against Spaniard Paula Badosa. “I’m happy that I managed to win,” Rybakina said. “I had chances in the second set to close it out but I was a little bit low on energy and she did a couple of good returns, one double-fault from me. So it didn’t go my way in the second but I’m happy that in the third I found my way and won.”

Read More – Miami Open 2023: Jiri Lehecka cruises past Federico Coria in first round

In their first meeting at the tour level, Rybakina overcame a break-down deficit in the opening set to defeat Kalinskaya after falling behind 5-3 and go on to win 7-5, 4-1. However, at 4-4, a shaky service game gave Kalinskaya the break. The No. 64 then calmly served out the set to send Rybakina to her fifth decisive set of the year. In the final set, Rybakina broke Kalinskaya to take a 4-3 lead, and this time the strong Kazakh refused to give up her advantage. Rybakina finished off the victory just before midnight after 2 hours and 15 minutes, trailing 40 winners on the evening, including 14 aces.

“I only had two days and today was quite a long day, we’re finishing now really late,” Rybakina said. “Courts are different, balls are different, so it’s not easy at all. But hopefully these three sets will help me in the next round.”