Miami men’s draw stocked with blockbusters
03.16.26
By Harvey Fialkov / Staff writer
MIAMI GARDENS – The Miami Open men’s main draw came out Monday evening, and it’s loaded with early-round blockbuster matches, including Taylor Fritz, the sixth-seed top-ranked American, who may have to navigate a treacherous path in the top half just to reach a potential quarterfinal clash with world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
Fritz, a Californian transplant living in Miami, served his way to a semifinal meeting here last year where, despite not dropping his serve, lost a tight, three-set skirmish to then unheralded 19-year-old Jakub Mensik of Czechia. Mensik then shocked six-time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic in two tiebreakers to lift his first ATP title.
Mensik, now ranked 13th, is in second-seeded Jannik Sinner’s quarter of the bracket, but will first have to deal with charismatic American Frances Tiafoe in a possible third rounder.
Sinner, who won this tournament in 2024, may have to deal with the sweet, steady strokes of Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie before encountering the massive serves of Mensik.
“I played really well here last year,’’ said Fritz, who could face Canadian southpaw Denis Shapoavaolov in the second round and potentially burly Brit Jack Draper in round three. “It’s the kind of tennis I like playing. A lot of that has to do with the court speed as well. It was pretty fast so you get rewarded when you took risks and hit good shots. It was a good serving court and when I wanted to take my chances and pull the trigger, I’d get rewarded.
“I was unlucky to lose the match in the semis. It was one of those that could’ve gone either way.”
Taylor Fritz of The United States on Grandstand Court during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Monday, Mar. 24, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AJ Shorter/South Florida Stadium)
Draper, who was ranked No. 4 last year after winning Indian Wells, developed an arm injury that led to an eight-month absence and a drop to No. 26. However, he appeared healthy and formidable in taking down Djokovic 7-6 in the third set of their fourth-round match last week in the desert.
In a battle of booming servers, Draper could face an early test against 6-foot-11 American Reilly Opelka in the second round. If not Fritz, then Draper and
Alcaraz could be destined for a quarterfinal date.
Who knows if Alcaraz will even get to the quarters as he may face Joao Fonseca, the 19-year-old Brazilian prodigy in round two? It would be their first Tour-
level encounter with hopefully 50 more to come.
If the match happens, buckle your sea belts for a raucous time on Stadium Court as the boisterous, yellow-clad Brazilians will be waving their flag at Alcaraz’ rabid Spanish fan base.
“The power he has is impressive,’’ Alcaraz said last year. “His serve is very good, something that for me when I entered the Tour was what I struggled with the most. Joao has a brutal forehand. If I had to point out something to improve, it would be his mobility.”
Crowd favorite Grigor Dimitrov, who enjoyed a resurgent ride to the semis in Miami last year before falling to Djokovic, could draw blossoming 23-year-old Italian Flavio Cobolli, who’s at a career-high No. 14 after last month’s win at ATP 500 Acapulco.
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About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2026 Miami Open presented by Itaú will be played March 15 – March 29 at Hard Rock Stadium. The 15-day event is owned and operated by MARI and Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a WTA 1000 event on the WTA calendar, and annually hosts the world’s best players, with recent champions including the top players in each tour’s rankings – Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. In 2025, the tournament attracted more than 400,000 spectators over its 15 days at Hard Rock Stadium. Widely regarded as the most glamorous stop on the ATP and WTA calendars, the Miami Open is defined by the city’s vibrant culture, nightlife, five-star dining and hospitality, iconic beaches, and celebrity appeal, along with its close proximity to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
About Itaú Unibanco
The largest bank in Latin America, Itaú Unibanco operates in 18 countries and serves more than 70 million customers, including individuals and companies across a wide range of segments. With the purpose of strengthening financial well-being, the bank supports customers at different stages of life by offering solutions tailored to their needs, as well as innovation and information that encourage more conscious decision-making and a healthier relationship with money.
In sports, Itaú has maintained a consistent presence in tennis for 50 years, supporting the development of the sport in Brazil and worldwide across multiple fronts — from talent development to the sponsorship of major international events — as part of its strategy to strengthen customer relationships, build brand relevance, and broaden access to sport.
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MARI is a global events and experiences company with a portfolio of some of the world’s most influential live properties across sport, art, lifestyle, and entertainment. From international tennis tournaments such as the Mutua Madrid Open and the Miami Open presented by Itaú to Frieze, a leading voice in contemporary art, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, TodayTix Group’s leadership in digital ticketing, and Barrett-Jackson’s leading collector car auctions, MARI’s portfolio reflects a shared ambition: to deliver live experiences that bring people together, inspire audiences and shape culture worldwide.
About Hard Rock Stadium
Hard Rock Stadium is a global entertainment destination and curator of world-class events. The best-in-class venue is home to the Miami Dolphins, University of Miami Hurricanes football team, the Capital One Orange Bowl, Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, Miami Open presented by Itaú, major concerts, the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and FIFA World Cup 2026™. Due to its overall sustainability efforts, the multifunctional venue holds Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification and FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation rating. For more information, visit hardrockstadium.com.
