WTA Miami - Alisa Kleybanova makes a winning return to tennis

With most of the big names getting a first round bye, all eyes at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Tuesday were on Russian Alisa Kleybanova. The former world no. 20 was playing in her first event since being diagnosed with cancer last June and the Russian came away with a three set win over Swede Johanna Larsson.

Also through to the second round were British teenager Heather Watson, who came back from 0-5 down in the final set, to beat Sorana Cirstea in a third set tie breaker and rising youngsters Simona Halep and Mona Barthel.

However former world no. 4 Jelena Dokic’s struggles continued as she was knocked out by Russian Ekaterina Makarova.

Women’s Singles – First Round[WC] H Watson (GBR) d S Cirstea (ROU) 63 36 76(4)J Zheng (CHN) d L Hradecka (CZE) 61 64A Tatishvili (GEO) d T Paszek (AUT) 64 43 Retired[WC] A Kleybanova (RUS) d J Larsson (SWE) 26 63 62S Halep (ROU) d C Suarez Navarro (ESP) 67(5) 63 63L Dominguez Lino (ESP) d [WC] B Jovanovski (SRB) 63 63T Pironkova (BUL) d P Martic (CRO) 63 62[WC] S Zhang (CHN) d E Baltacha (GBR) 67(5) 63 62M Erakovic (NZL) d M Johansson (FRA) 46 64 64M Barthel (GER) d G Arn (HUN) 61 60E Makarova (RUS) d J Dokic (AUS) 61 75