Miami (US), Mar 22 (IANS): Puerto Rican player Monica Puig advanced to the second round of the 2018 Miami Open after defeating Australian Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-4.

Puig played better than her Australian rival in the match on Stadium Court in the Tennis Center at Crandon Park here on Wednesday, where she managed to win the first set, taking advantage of the lead she achieved in the eighth game, reports Efe news agency.

In the second set, Puig did not take long to clinch a 2-0 lead, and although she let her serve slip in the sixth game, she immediately regained control of the court and won the set.

Prior to this match, Stosur had enjoyed a record of four victories and two losses in a total of six matches against Puig but the Puerto Rican has won their last two matches.

The next match will not be easy for the gold medallist of the 2016 Rio Olympics as she is scheduled to take on No.2 seed, Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, who was a finalist in the 2017 Miami Open.