Ashley Harkleroad proved correct in last week's assessment that she might not yet be in shape to contest a WTA event. On Tuesday, the new mother was scalded 6-1 6-1 in the first round of Miami by another player on the comeback trail, Alicia Molik.
Two women who haven’t made much noise since the 2009 French Open also faced off, with Sorana Cirstea overcoming Michelle Larcher De Brito 7-5, 7-6 (9) and Yaroslava Shvedova surviving 16-year-old Croatian wild card Alja Tomlijanovic 6-7 (1), 7-6 (3), 7-5.
Men's qualifiers in Miami included Xavier Malisse, who flew past Donald Young 6-1 6-2. Marcel Ilhan, who became the first-ever Turkish player to reach the 2nd round in a Grand Slam at last year's U.S. Open, also made it to the main draw by overcoming Marcos Daniel 7-6, 6-2. Denis Istomin and Kevin Anderson were among the others who came through.—Matthew Cronin