Masters 1000 in Miami

Ofner meets Nishikori, Rodionov out in qualifying

Sebastian Ofner will face Japan's Kei Nishikori for the first time at the Masters 1000 tournament in Miami. Yuri Rodionov failed in the first round of qualifying.

The former world number four, who is in the field thanks to a wildcard, is returning to the tour for the first time since July last year after a series of injuries. Ofner has never played against the now 34-year-old Asian. Should the world number 40 from Styria prevail, he will face the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (No. 20).

For Yuri Rodionov, Monday was the end of the line in the first round of qualifying. The number 12 seed from Lower Austria was beaten 7:6(3), 6:7(7), 2:6 by Finland's Otto Virtanen. It was a particularly bitter defeat for the world no. 91, as he missed no fewer than six match points, including at 6:3 in the second tiebreak.