28 March,2011 09:45 AM IST | | AFP
Top seeds Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki lived up to expectations as both advanced with ease at the $9 million Miami WTA and ATP Masters tournament yesterday.
Nadal, on the quest for his first trophy since October in Tokyo, overpowered Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4 while Wozniacki beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-1, 7-6 (9/7).
World No 1 Nadal has yet to win a Miami title, finishing runner-up in 2005 to Roger Federer and three years later to Nikolay Davydenko. His win over Nishikori followed one at Wimbledon last year.
"It was one of those first rounds you don't want to see," said the Spaniard. "I'm very happy about how I played today ufffd I was at a high level tonight.
"The feeling was better than last week, so that's important. The serve worked very well at the end of the match."
Federer notched another match win and another career milestone through a straight-sets win over Radek Stepanek. The Swiss defeated the Czech 6-3, 6-3 to reach the third round. Tomas Berdych beat Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0.
