Miami Open 2024 tennis: Storm Hunter’s singles campaign ends in second round

Storm Hunter was knocked out from the women’s singles competition at the Miami Open 2024 tennis tournament in Florida on Friday after losing her second round match.

The 29-year-old Hunter, ranked 122nd, went down against the USA’s Emma Navarro, seeded 20th at the WTA 1000 event, by a 6-4, 6-3 scoreline.

It was Hunter who started the match on the front foot and broke her better-ranked opponent twice early to take a 4-1 lead in the first set. Navarro, however, flipped the tables on Hunter and broke the Aussie’s serve three times on the trot to take the lead.

The second set proved to be more straightforward for Navarro.

The Australian tennis player had progressed to the Round of 64 after her opening round opponent, Italy’s Martina Trevisan, retired. Hunter was leading 6-3, 3-0 in the match before world No. 61 Trevisan withdrew.

Hunter, the world No. 3 in WTA doubles rankings, however, is still alive in the women’s doubles event in Florida and will partner Czech player Katerina Siniakova. The duo is scheduled to play the People’s Republic of China’s Wang Xinyu and Zheng Saisai in the first round.

Hunter’s exit also ends Australia’s campaign in women’s singles at the Miami Open. Daria Saville had also lost in the second round on Thursday.

Meanwhile, most of the Miami Open matches on Friday were suspended due to heavy rains in Florida.

World No. 10 Alex de Minaur will start his campaign in men’s singles on Sunday. Matthew Ebden will also play in doubles with Indian partner Rohan Bopanna this weekend.