Sam Stosur has notched her fourth singles win of the season to set up a second-round clash with world No.16 Madison Keys at the Miami Open.
34-year-old Stosur triumphed over Russia's Evgeniya Rodina 6-4 6-2 in 90 minutes, hitting nine aces and winning 70 per cent of first serve points.
The former US Open Champion has now won all three head-to-head encounters against Rodina in straight sets.
Stosur will go on to face American Madison Keys in the second round, with the victor all but certain to take on world no.11 Ash Barty in the third.
MORE: Bernard Tomic all but certain to take on Novak Djokovic at Miami Open | Simona Halep hires Daniel Dobre as new coach ahead of Miami Open
"We've both got a bit more experience than back then, she was pretty young when I played her last time," Stosur said of Keys after the match.
"She has a big game, big serve, big forehand.
“I’m gonna have to play really well, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
👏 @bambamsam30 2️⃣nd round ahead!
— WTA (@WTA) March 20, 2019
She overcame Rodina by 6-4, 6-2.#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/AQtG2v35iE
World No.82 Stosur is yet to drop a set against Keys, with the Australian winning both of their previous meetings in 2013.
Their third encounter is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 22 at 10.30am (AEDT), but will likely be delayed to the backlog of postponed matches.
Ajla Tomjlanovic lost the first set 6-4 to Anna-Lena Friedsam in her first-round match before play was suspended due to heavy rain.
Daria Gavrilova's opening round match against Viktoria Kuzmova was postponed in its entirety, and has been rescheduled for 4.30am (AEDT).
