Russia's Elena Vesnina, last week's winner at Indian Wells, crashed out of the WTA Miami Open in the second round Friday at the hands of Croatian qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic. But top seed Angelique Kerber of Germany advanced with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 win over China's Duan Ying-ying despite having to wait over six hours to play due to a schedule back-up caused by rain delays. Vesnina, seeded 13th, faced the rain delays and wind during her closely fought contest but ended up losing 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 to 594th-ranked Tomljanovic, who will face Czech Lucie Safarova in the third round. While Kerber was bumped off the main stadium, a men's contest between ninth-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and lowly ranked Argentine Guido Pella took place on the prime court before local favorite Venus Williams followed. Williams had little trouble defeating Brazilian wildcard Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-4, 6-3. Venus will face Romanian Patricia Maria Tig in the next round. American qualifier Taylor Townsend upset Italian 25th seed Roberta Vinci 6-3, 6-2 to set up a meeting with seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, who downed Mandy Minella of Luxembourg 6-2, 6-2. Spanish sixth seed Garbine Muguruza had all night to ponder a possible early exit as she trailed 6-0, 3-2 to Christina McHale when play was suspended due to rain Thursday. But Muguruza prevailed saving a match point to earn a 0-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win. Big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic made a strong return to competition by beating Viktor Troicki 6-3, 7-5 to reach the third round. Joining the Canadian in the third round were Spanish fifth seed Rafa Nadal and Japanese second seed Kei Nishikori. Nadal advanced past Israeli Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-4, taking the critical second-set break in the seventh game, while Nishikori cut down South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-3. Raonic advanced to play American Jared Donaldson, a 6-4, 6-4 winner against 28th seed Mischa Zverev of Germany. A string of upsets unfolded later in the day with world No. 13 Grigor Dimitrov eliminated in straight sets by Argentinean Guido Pella 6-3, 7-6(4). American Donald Young knocked out 11th seed Lucas Pouille 6-2, 6-4, Federico Delbonis took down 15th seed Pablo Carreno 1-6, 7-5, 6-2, while Frenchman Gilles Simon fell to German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 6-1. In earlier action, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy defeated seventh-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win. — Agencies
