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Mixed news for Brits

Image: Laura Robson: Overcame Alexandra Panova in straight sets

Laura Robson and James Ward progress at the Sony Ericsson Open but Anne Keothavong, Naomi Broady and Dan Evans all suffer defeats.

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Wins for Robson and Ward but Keothavong, Broady and Evans lose

Laura Robson and James Ward won their opening qualifying matches at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami but there was disappointment for fellow Britons Anne Keothavong, Naomi Broady and Dan Evans. Robson made light of a gap of 37 ranking places to beat Russia's world No.83 Alexandra Panova 6-3 7-6 (7-3). Ward was an impressive 6-3 6-3 winner against Andrey Golubev, a player 24 places ahead of him in the rankings at number 138. However, despite being the second seed in women's qualifying, Keothavong was knocked out 6-4 6-3 by Japan's Misaki Doi. Broady was thrashed in straight sets, going down 6-3 6-0 to qualifying top seed Kateryna Bondarenko, while Evans lost 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 to Bjorn Phau. Robson and Ward must win another round to reach the first round proper of the lucrative event, which runs through to April 1. Andy Murray and Elena Baltacha are in the main draw by right, and Heather Watson has been granted a wild card. Baltacha will play Serena Williams in the second round, should the Scot beat China's Zhang Shuai in her first match.