Naomi Osaka handed free pass to fourth round as Sofia Kenin suffers Miami Open exit

An unexpected rest day for Australian Open winner Osaka

Kenin suffered a third-round defeat (Getty Images)

World number four Sofia Kenin has tumbled out of the Miami Open after being defeated in the third round by Ons Jabeur.

The Tunisian, who became the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final at the 2020 Australian Open, broke the US player in the ninth game of the final set to win 6-4 4-6 6-4.

Bianca Andreescu of Canada is also through to the fourth round following a 7-6 (4) 6-7 (2) 6-4 victory over American Amanda Anisimova, whose compatriot Jessica Pegula upset sixth seed Karolina Pliskova.

Pegula, seeded 29, cruised through the first set and finished strongly against the Czech Republic’s Pliskova to win 6-1 4-6 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes.

Second seed Naomi Osaka progressed via walkover when qualifier Nina Stojanovic of Serbia pulled out of their scheduled match due a right thigh injury.

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Osaka will next meet Belgium’s Elise Mertens, who recovered from a second-set wobble to reach the last 16 by beating Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-2 0-6 6-2, while Greece’s 23rd seed Maria Sakkari cruised to a 6-0 6-1 win against Russian Liudmila Samsonova.

Sara Sorribes Tormo will face Jabeur after defeating Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina 6-1 3-6 6-2 and the Spaniard’s compatriot Garbine Muguruza fought back to beat Russian Anna Kalinskaya 4-6 6-3 6-4 and will play Andreescu in the next round.

PA