Advertisement

Hewitt takes 600th career victory, Tomic falls

Hewitt takes 600th career victory, Tomic falls

Miami (AFP) - Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt captured his 600th career victory Thursday at the ATP and WTA Miami Masters while countryman Bernard Tomic became the fastest loser in ATP history.

Former number one Hewitt rallied to defeat Dutchman Robin Haase 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second round while Tomic fell in his first match since January hip surgery 6-0, 6-1 to Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.

Tomic, ranked 74th, crashed out in 28 minutes, 20 seconds, the ATP's shortest match by a minute. Tomic was playing for the first time since a retirement against Rafael Nadal in a first-round match at the Australian Open.

Hewitt, 33, turned in another of the trademark fighbacks which have characterized a career that included Grand Slam crowns at Wimbledon in 2002 and the US Open in 2001.

The 44th-ranked Australian reversed course in the second set to reach the second round in just under two hours, with Haase saving a match point before exiting.

"It's not something you focus on, to tell you the truth. I totally forgot," Hewitt said of his 600th triumph. "Today was just like another match and an opportunity to go out there and play well.

"Obviously afterwards, it's a great milestone. Not many people get to achieve that. Not many people get the opportunity to get close to that, so it means I've been around for an awfully long time as well. I'm getting old.

"A few years ago when I had the last couple lot of surgeries I probably would have doubted I'd get to this stage anyway. I'm still grateful I'm out there and able to compete with the best guys."

Two Americans put out Argentines as Jack Sock defeated Guido Pella 6-3, 6-4 and Ryan Harrison stopped Federico Delbonis 6-2, 6-4.

France's Stephane Robert beat Russian Alex Bogomolov 7-5, 6-4 while compatriot Eduardo Roger-Vasselin defeated Dutchman Igor Sijsling 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

In women's play, defending champion Serena Williams and 2013 finalist Maria Sharapova were opening in later second-round matches after byes.

Williams was playing for the first time in a month as she faced Yaroslava Shvedova while fourth seed Sarapova was to take on Kurumi Nara of Japan.

German Angelique Kerber paced five women's seeds advancing with the number five beating China's Peng Shuai 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7/5) while 2011 Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, the number eight, beat Argentine Paola Ormaechea 6-3, 6-4.

Ana Ivanovic, the 12th seed, hammered American Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-1 while 14th-seeded Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki ousted Nadia Petrova 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and 16th-seeded Aussie Samantha Stosur beat Kiki Bertens 6-3, 6-2.