Tennis: Aisam-Rojer crash out of Miami

Pair loses 2nd-round tie in straight sets.

MIAMI: Aisamul Haq Qureshi and his Dutch partner Jean-Julien Rojer crashed out of the Miami Open doubles event in the second round, going down in straight sets to Italian Daniele Bracciali and Juan Sebastian Cabal of Columbia 6-2 7-6.

The defeat further dents Aisam's chances of making a return to the top-10 as he strives to seal a place at this year's London Olympics.

Meanwhile, world number two Rafael Nadal cruised through to the last-16 in the singles event, beating Czech Radek Stepanek 6-2, 6-2 in a third-round match, while fourth-seeded Andy Murray advanced when Canadian Milos Raonic withdrew with a right ankle injury.

"I'm just happy to be in the fourth round," said Nadal. "I will just try to keep doing well and try to keep improving."

In the women's draw, wild-card Venus Williams beat Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) and top-seed Victoria Azarenka powered past Heather Watson 6-0, 6-2 in third-round matches.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2012.