Miami Open Title: Roger Federer comeback aborted; Novak Djokovic on course

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic made a strong start Friday in his quest for a third consecutive Miami Open title while Roger Federer’s expected return from a two-month layoff was over before it started.

Djokovic, seeking his sixth Miami crown overall and the first “three-peat” since Andre Agassi in 2001-2003, opened by defeating Britain’s 87th-ranked Kyle Edmund 6-3, 6-3 in the ATP and WTA hardcourt event.

Djokovic, who captured his 11th Grand Slam singles crown at the Australian Open two months ago, will face Portugal’s Joao Sousa in the third round Sunday as he tries to add to a 2016 trophy haul that also includes Doha and Indian Wells.

But third-ranked Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam singles champion who underwent left knee surgery last month, withdrew from the tournament just hours before his match, citing a stomach virus. “I have not felt great for a few days and unfortunately it got worse in the last 24 hours,” Federer said.

Federer has not played since losing to Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals two months ago.

Federer was replaced by 58th-ranked lucky loser Horacio Zeballos, who made the most of his chance by defeating Argentine compatriot Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4, 6-4.

Reigning Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber and Spanish fourth seed Garbine Muguruza reached the third round of the women’s competition.

German second seed Kerber cruised past Czech Barbora Strycova 6-1, 6-1 while Muguruza battled for two hours and 45 minutes before subduing Slovakia’s 54th-ranked Dominika Cibulkova 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 7-5.

Spanish sixth seed Carla Suarez Navarro was ousted by American CoCo Vandeweghe 6-4, 6-2 while Swiss seventh seed Belinda Bencic retired with a lower back injury trailing Czech Kristyna Pliskova 4-1.