A year ago, Jakub Mensik was virtually unknown in America. Two weeks and 111 aces later, the 6-foot-5 Czechian shocked the tennis world with a 7-6, 7-6 victory over his idol and six-time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic to lift the beautiful Butch Buchholz trophy. He became the fourth man in history to notch his first title in the Miami Open and the second youngest Miami champion at age 19 behind Carlos Alcaraz, who won in 2022 when he was 18.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Miami Open presented by Itaú proudly presents Women’s Empowerment Day, a campus wide celebration filled with immersive experiences leading up to a star-powered panel at 5 p.m.

It’s not often one finds a 25-year-old Grand Slam champion with 1000-level titles on her resume, fighting through qualifying at the Miami Open. But when your name is Bianca Andreescu, the affable Canadian who has had the most horrific run of injuries over the past seven years, including an emergency appendectomy in 2025, then her latest comeback is understandable. 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.

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.

As the world of professional tennis continues to evolve, the Miami Open is expanding its footprint beyond the baseline. This year, the tournament welcomes the all-new Pro Padel League (PPL) II to South Florida, introducing fans to one of the fastest-growing sports in the world on one of tennis’s biggest stages. 

Dynamic Duo of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner into the Terrific Trio, like the world has had for nearly two decades with the Big Three of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Some of the potential candidates are 20-year-old defending Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik of Czechia, 21-year-old flashy Frenchman Arthur Fils, injured 22-year-old Dane Hulger Rune or even crafty 20-year-old American Learner Thien.

Tennis great Venus Williams’ favorite book is, “I Am Number Four” and the three-time Miami Open champion would certainly like to make it four over this fortnight at Hard Rock Stadium. At 45, Williams is by far the oldest player in either the men or women’s draw, and of course the long-time Palm Beach resident was granted a wild card into her record 20th Miami Open.

Australian qualifier Storm Hunter didn’t have to go far in search of inclement weather with all 24 qualifying matches and practices canceled Sunday, the opening day of the 41st Miami Open Masters 1000 tournament. Clearly, New Zealand’s 12th-seeded qualifier Lulu Sun was missing in action during the all-day washout at Hard Rock Stadium.

Before the brackets fill in and the night sessions steal the spotlight, the Miami Open begins the way Miami does best: with food, music, and entertainment. 

Three-time Miami Open winner Venus Williams, former champion Sloane Stephens, and five rising teenagers are among the wild card recipients for the Miami Open presented by Itaú which runs March 15-29 at the Hard Rock Stadium.