Muguruza saved by rain at Miami Open, trails McHale 0-6, 2-3

Miami, March 24 (IANS) Spanish tennis star Garbi?e Muguruza got off to a rocky start at the Miami Open and currently trails American Christina McHale 0-6, 2-3 in second-round action, although a rain delay may have given her a new lease of life.

The world No. 6 double-faulted four times in the first set of Thursday's match and was also unable to make any impression on the service games of the 46th-ranked McHale, who won 16 of her 19 service points en route to the "bagel," reports Efe.

The 2016 French Open champion was better on return at the start of the second set, although she lost her serve two more times and was down a service break when heavy rain postponed the action until Friday.

McHale's domination of the baseline rallies was reflected in the players' winning percentage on second-serve points, with the American capturing 80 percent of those points and Muguruza just 33 percent through a set and a half.

That match at this elite hard court event will resume early Friday afternoon on Stadium court after the completion of a contest pitting Romanian world No. 5 Simona Halep against promising Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka.