By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday March 20, 2025
Naomi Osaka took down hard-hitting Liudmila Samsonova on Thursday evening in Miami, 6-2, 6-4, to book her spot in the third round.
The 2022 finalist needed 82 minutes to improve her record to 8-3 on the season.
Osaka could have been off the court earlier, but she didn’t convert a break point with Samsonova serving at 2-5 in the second set; then she failed to serve out the match at 5-3.
She broke in the final game to set a third-round clash with American Hailey Baptiste.
Collins Holds Serve
Defending champion Danielle Collins also moved through on Thursday night in Miami. She defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 7-6(3). Collins won the event as the World No.53 last year, and is the lowest-ranked champion in tournament history. This year she is seeded 14th – she will face Rebeka Masarova of Switzerland in the third round, with a potential clash with top-seeded ArynaSabalenka looming in the round of 16.