Promising American teen CiCi Bellis was an easy first-round winner Tuesday at the $5.3 million Miami Open tennis event.
Playing in her first WTA-level match of the year and only the third of her career, the 15-year-old San Francisco native blew past Dutchwoman Indy De Vroome 6-2, 6-2 at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park.
Meanwhile, Delaware native Madison Brengle whipped Serbia's Aleksandra Krunic 6-0, 6-2 on Day 1. Brengle will face U.S. Open runner-up Caroline Wozniacki in the second round here.
Also, Slovak Anna Schmiedlova drilled Slovenian Polona Hercog 6-3, 6-2 and Italian Karin Knapp took care of Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 6-0.
The top seeds in South Florida are world No. 1 superstar Serena Williams, former top-ranked star Maria Sharapova, last week's Indian Wells champ Simona Halep and the former No. 1 Wozniacki. The reigning Australian and U.S. Open champion Williams captured a seventh Miami championship by beating Li Na in last year's finale. The reigning Roland Garros titlist Sharapova is a five- time Miami runner-up.
The 2015 Miami champion will earn $900,400.
[SportsNetwork.com]
