Sloane Stephens celebrates birthday with pajama party, Miami Open win over Angelique Kerber

She reflected on her career on her birthday.

“It’s been a difficult journey, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of heartbreak, a lot of strong, incredible performances on incredible stages and great trophies and just very low lows,” she said. “When I started playing tennis I would have never dreamed of winning a Grand Slam or being No. 3 in the world. I was playing because I loved it.”

She said someone recently asked if she regretted never reaching No. 1.

“Absolutely not,” she said. “I maxed out what I had. I won a Grand Slam. I had a great career-high ranking, played the Olympics, done all these amazing things. When you start a sport you can have a dream ... when you do that and so many other things on top of it, it’s like icing in the cake. I’ve done so much, but there is still a lot left. I’m 31, who knows how much longer I’ll play, but there is still a lot left.”

Also advancing Wednesday were Danielle Collins, who beat fellow American Bernarda Pera 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 and American Shelby Rogers, who rallied to beat wild card Linda Fruhvirtova of Czech Republic 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

On the men’s side, 36-year-old former No. 1 Andy Murray of Great Britain won his opening match 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Matteo Berrettini of Italy. Murray, who spent many offseasons training in Miami, is ranked No. 62 and was granted a wild card in to the tournament, which he has won twice.

Also, Tomas Machac of Czech Republic beat American wild card Darwin Blanch, a 16-year-old Deerfield Beach native making his ATP debut. Machac, ranked No. 60 in the world, won 6-4, 6-2. Canadian Denis Shapovalov defeated Italian Luciano Darderi 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4.

Thursday’s afternoon schedule includes No. 17 American Madison Keys against Russian Diana Shnaider, a former North Carolina State player who beat Venus Williams in the opening round. Fourth-ranked Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan plays qualifier Clara Tauson of Denmark in the night session. Wild card Kei Nishikori, the Japanese star who reached as high as No. 4 in the world in 2015, is coming off injury and plays Sebastian Ofner of Austria.

Sabalenka asks for privacy

The tournament’s No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka released this statement about the tragic death by apparent suicide Sunday of ex-boyfriend and former NHL player Konstantin Koltsov: “Konstantin’s death is an unthinkable tragedy, and while we were no longer together, my heart is broken. Please respect my privacy and his family’s privacy during this difficult time.”

Koltsov, 42, jumped from a balcony at the St. Regis Bal Harbour, according to Miami-Dade police. Sabalenka is scheduled to play her opening match on Friday.