Lloyd Harris wins opening round match at Miami Open

South Africa’s top-ranked tennis player Lloyd Harris has won his opening round match at the Miami Open.

Harris beat local qualifier Emilio Nava in two tight sets that lasted an hour and 32 minutes on Thursday.

Harris, who hails from Cape Town, won 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) to progress to the second round where he will face Spanish seventh-seed Roberto Bautista Agut.

Harris and Bautista Agut have never faced one another at ATP Tour level before.

Harris, 24, was due to face three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray in the opening round, but the Scotsman was forced to withdraw with a “freak” groin injury.

Harris has been in red-hot form this season and is coming off a losing final appearance at lasts week’s Dubai Championship where he lost to Russia’s Aslan Karatsev.

Lloyd Harris’ ranked after his exploits in Dubai saw him rise to 52nd in the rankings – a new career high.

With his win in the opening round Harris has now moved to 50th. A win in Round 2 will see him move up one more spot while a tournament victory will place him inside the world’s top 25.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s only other entrant in the men’s singles draw in Miami, Kevin Anderson, will get his campaign under way against Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro on Thursday.

Anderson has been hard hit by injuries in recent times and has seen his ranking drop to 91st from a career high of fourth.