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Monday, March 25, 2019, 14:26
Wang Yafan ousts Collins to make last 16 at Miami Open
By Xinhua
Monday, March 25, 2019, 14:26 By Xinhua

Wang Yafan of China celebrates after winning the women's singles quarterfinal match against Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil at the 2019 WTA Mexican Open tennis tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, on Feb 28, 2019. (XIN YUEWEI / XINHUA)

WASHINGTON - Rapidly improving Wang Yafan of China moved into the round of 16 at the Miami Open for the second straight year, after her Sunday's straight-set win over No.25 seed Danielle Collins of the United States gave her a second consecutive win over a seeded player in the tournament.

In the first meeting between the two players, it was 24-year-old Wang who eliminated last year's semifinalist Collins 7-5, 6-1 in one hour and 38 minutes, breaking the American's serve six times out of 13 break points.

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"The first time playing Collins, and she played good. I know she had a good Australian Open, making semifinals there," Wang said after her win. "I didn't think too much, just focused, played my tennis, and that's it."

I didn't think too much, just focused, played my tennis, and that's it

Wang Yafan

In the second round, Wang upset No.6 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine to register her first top 10 victory in career.

World No.50 Wang carried on her success in Miami as she reached the fourth round as a qualifier last year. "Last year, I played four rounds here," Wang said. "So I'm very happy and I want to play maybe better next match."

In the round of 16, she will face her compatriot Wang Qiang. The 18th-seeded Wang Qiang moved into the fourth round after No.10 seed and eight-time Miami champion Serena Williams had to withdraw prior to their scheduled match, due to a left knee injury.

Wang went up a break early in the first set at 2-1, but Collins' aggressive hitting and sturdy defense helped her break back twice for a 4-2 lead.

Wang, who won her first WTA title in the Mexico Open earlier this month, stepped up her game just in time and broke Collins' serve in the 7th and 11th games to take the first blood.

Wang won 80 percent of first-serve points in the set, while Collins' 16 winners were undone by her 22 unforced errors.

READ MORE: China's Wang Yafan upsets sixth seed Svitolina in Miami Open

Collins did well and hold serve in the first game of the second set, but Wang stayed calm and started to take control. The Chinese player broke through in a tense game to claim a 2-1 lead, and extended that advantage further with a second break to go ahead 4-1 after a clutch of errors from Collins.

After that, Wang was never troubled en route to her victory.

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