In the duel between the two former world number ones, the Japanese Osaka won 6: 2, 6: 3. Kerber was seeded number 13 and had a bye in the first round. Laura Siegemund and Nastasja Schunk had already left.
With around 8.6 million USdollar endowed hard court tournament in Florida belongs to the highest category on the WTA-Trip. Kerber’s best result there was the semifinals in 2016.
Struff retired injured
Jan-Lennard Struff was eliminated in the first round due to injury. The Warsteiner gave up his game against the Spaniard Pedro Martinez when the score was 3:6 and 0:2 because of a foot injury.