KEY BISCAYNE (Florida): Roger Federer continued his impressive 2017 campaign with a straight-sets, second-round victory at the Miami Open on Saturday.

But it was far from a cakewalk for Federer, who came within two points of losing the first set before breaking twice in the second for a 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 triumph over American teenager Frances Tiafoe.

Next up for Federer is Juan Martin del Potro, who beat Dutchman Robin Haase 6-2, 6-4 in a night match at Crandon Park.

Returning to the tournament after a two-year absence, Federer took the lead with a flawless tiebreaker and gradually pulled away from Tiafoe.

“I think he’s going to be really good,” Federer said. “He’s got big shots, and I like his mindset. That goes a long way.”

Federer is 14-1 in 2017, including his 18th Grand Slam championship at the Australian Open and a title at Indian Wells last week. His potential path at Key Biscayne is made easier by the absences of six-time champion Novak Djokovic and two-time champion Andy Murray, both sidelined by elbow injuries.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle will be fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka, seeded No 1 in an ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the first time. Wawrinka dominated with his serve to win his opening match against Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos, 6-3, 6-4 in 65 minutes.

Wawrinka will face Malek Jaziri next after the Tunisian beat Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Austrian number six Dominic Thiem was the only high seed to suffer a loss on Saturday. Thiem fell to 20-year-old Croatian Borna Coric 6-1, 7-5.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios also progressed, enjoying a 6-4, 6-3 win over Bosnian Damir Dzumhur.

Americans John Isner and Sam Querrey won in straight sets, as did 19-year-old German Alexander Zverev.

RADWANSKA OUSTED

In women’s play Polish fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska was the highest casualty, blown away for the second time this year by Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

Radwanska had no answer to the 26th seed, who rolled to a 6-0, 6-3 win in barely an hour.

Lucic-Baroni also beat Radwanska at the Australian Open in January, in the second round en route to the semi-finals, where she eventually fell to Serena Williams.

Another high seed had a fright, number six Garbine Muguruza overcoming a slow start to beat China’s Zhang Shuai 4-6, 6-2,-6-2 in over two hours.

The Spaniard will face Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki who beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-2.

Second seed Karolina Pliskova’s match went according to form, the Czech beating Kazak 27th seed Yulia Putintseva 7-5, 6-3 and Slovak Dominika Cibulkova also progressed with a comfortable two sets win over Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens.

But 17th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was sent packing, beaten 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 by American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2017