Rafael Nadal made an efficient start on a rain-soaked day at the WTA and ATP Miami Masters on Friday as the fourth seed subdued American Taylor Dent 6-4, 6-3.
The routine win in just over an hour was straightforward for Nadal, a two-time Miami finalist looking to stop the rot and win his first title since Rome last May.
A pair of Americans were bundled out as Frenchman Jeremy Chardy stopped Sam Querrey 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 and Brazil’s Tomaz Bellicci added to the misery of veteran James Blake with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 defeat.
Women’s seeds fared better with wins all round. Holder Victoria Azarenka, seeded fourth, beat Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru 6-3, 6-2 while number seven Jelena Jankovic backed up her weekend title at Indian Wells 6-4, 6-0 triumph over Mariya Koryttseva.
US Open winner Kim Clijsters put last week’s early defeat behind her with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Czech Petra Kvitova. Italian number 15 Francesca Schiavone defeated Alize Cornet of France 6-3, 6-2.