CiCi Bellis ready for Serena

Precocious amateur CiCi Bellis says she’s ready to take on the best of the pros – Serena Williams.

Bellis, a 15-year-old American who made a big splash at last year’s US Open, advanced at the Miami Open on Friday (Saturday AEDT) to a potential third-round match against Williams by beating Zarina Diyas 6-2 6-1.

Williams’ second-round match on Friday night against Monica Niculescu was postponed until Saturday because of rain.

But Bellis was already relishing the chance to take on the 19-time Grand Slam champion.

“It’s going to be really fun,” Bellis said.

“I have nothing to lose, so I’m just going to play my game and see what happens.”

Bellis became the youngest player to win a match at the US Open since 1996 when she upset 12th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova last August.

Suddenly a celebrity, Bellis then lost to Diyas in the second round.

Californian Bellis has yet to turn pro, and the Miami Open is her biggest tournament since the US Open.

She made the draw as a wild card and played Friday on remote Court 9, but she’ll be on the stadium court on Sunday if she faces Williams, who has won Key Biscayne a record seven times.

Meanwhile, Sloane Stephens won an all-American match on the stadium court, converting five of six break-point chances to beat No. 17 Madison Keys 6-4 6-2.

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