WTA Miami - Clijsters upset but Sharapova, Serena advance

Former world no. 1 Kim Clijsters was beaten in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami by compatriot Yanina Wickmayer.

Wickmayer scored a 6-4, 7-6 win over Clijsters, who was playing her first event since Australian Open.

Clijsters, a winner here in 2005 and 2010, saved six match points late in the second set but eventually lost out.

“Yanina definitely started off much better and was more consistent throughout the two sets, and I wasn’t,” Clijsters commented. “It was still close. In a way it’s a little bit frustrating knowing you’re playing not even 50% but it’s still close. On one hand you’re like, ‘Ah, I could have beaten her.’ But she played well today. I did feel she was getting nervous to finish off the match as well, so I had a few opportunities to get back into it and maybe win that second set.”

“It was a special win for me today because she was one of my idols growing up,” Wickmayer told the media. “I feel good. I’m getting more confidence every week.”

Second seed Maria Sharapova beat American qualifier Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-2 while Serena Williams defeated Roberta Vinci 6-2. 6-1.

Also, fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki stuggled past Petra Cetkovska 6-3, 7-5 while French Open champion Li Na beat Iveta Benesova 7-5, 6-2.

SONY ERICSSON OPEN

Singles – Third Round(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (Q) Sloane Stephens (USA) 64 62(4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (29) Petra Cetkovska (CZE) 63 75(8) Li Na (CHN) d. Iveta Benesova (CZE) 75 62(10) Serena Williams (USA) d. (21) Roberta Vinci (ITA) 62 61(12) Sabine Lisicki (GER) d. (17) Peng Shuai (CHN) 64 75(23) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Kim Clijsters (BEL) 64 76(5)Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) d. Mona Barthel (GER) 62 64