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          Jack Sock comeback story lives on

          MIAMI -- The seeded players have yet to take the court at the Miami Open, but who needs them? So far, we've had some compelling storylines with the mere mortals of the tennis world:

          1. Solid start for the young Americans

          Donald Young needed only 22 minutes to glide past Yen-Hsun Lu. Down 5-1 in the first set, the 31-year-old Taiwanese player retired with a neck injury. This season has been a remarkable turnaround for Young, who is now 14-7 through the first three months. Last week at Indian Wells, Young reached the third round before running into Rafael Nadal. The one-time prodigy lost his precocious branding quite a few years ago, but now the 25-year-old veteran has rededicated himself to the game. Equally as uplifting for U.S. tennis has been Jack Sock, who didn't play a single tournament before Indian Wells. Roger Federer knocked him out in the fourth round, but Sock regrouped and went on to win the doubles title. On Wednesday in Miami, Sock served his way past Japan's Go Soeda 6-3, 6-4. Sock next plays the stylish Fabio Fognini, seeded 21st, in the next round.

          2. Azarenka finding her form

          In past years, you wouldn't see Victoria Azarenka playing in the first couple of days. With a 96-player draw, the Miami Open affords byes to the top 32 seeds. Currently ranked 36th, Azarenka didn't quite make the cut, but she's getting close. In Doha, she was 48th and at Indian Wells, 38th. For now, the Belarusian was resigned to opening-day duty and made quick work of Spain's Sílvia Soler Espinosa, 6-1, 6-3. Azarenka's win sets up a sizzling clash with Indian Wells runner-up Jelena Jankovic on Friday. Prediction: Azarenka in a hasty two sets.

          3. Step back for Kokkinakis

          A recent tweet from Andy Murray sparked a fun debate:

          Murray likely was referring to the trio of Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis. We can't say for certain who the top Aussie will be when all is said and done, but we can tell you Kokkinakis, an 18-year-old from Adelaide, won't be garnering much more spotlight in Miami after a three-set loss to Carlos Berlocq on Wednesday. Kyrgios isn't playing the event after suffering an ankle injury last week, leaving only Tomic (who himself was injured and pulled out of his quarterfinal clash against Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells) to fill the Aussie void.

          4. Vaidisova has that winning feeling again

          The last time Nicole Vaidisova won a tennis match, Lady Gaga was busy donning a tasty-looking dress made of meat, which she wore to the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. The year was 2010 and Vaidisova beat Lauren Davis in the first round of Memphis. Vaidisova retired from tennis a month later only to unretire last season. On Wednesday, Vaidisova, a former two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, won her first match back with a 6-1, 7-6 (4) defeat of Timea Babos. As a reward (or is that a punishment?), Vaidisova will face world No. 3 and Indian Wells champ Simona Halep.

          5. Wozniacki just wants to have fun

          Caroline Wozniacki was one of a bevy of tennis stars who came out for the Taste of Tennis gala on Friday night, which included some of the world's finest chefs. It seemed like a good time for the Danish star, who has more or less had a less-than-fun year on the tennis court. Wozniacki will open up her Miami Open campaign against American Madison Brengle and could meet Venus Williams in the fourth round.