Upcoming blockbuster matches coming this weekend

By Harvey Fialkov / Staff writer

MIAMI GARDENS – The rains

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.

About MARI 

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. have created havoc for the tournament schedule-maker but the best is yet to come.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 coming off her 23^rd title at Indian Wells last week, is slated for the Friday day session on Stadium Court. Sabalenka is in pursuit of the difficult Sunshine Double, hoping to become the fifth woman to achieve it. The Belarusian’s first opponent will be the winner of Aussie qualifier Kimberly Birrell and Pennsylvanian Ann Li.

In arguably the most anticipated match of the two-week Masters 1000 extravaganza will take place in the Friday evening session as the always charismatic world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain could possibly face Brazilian teen prodigy Joao Fonseca in their first Tour meeting.

Of course, on Thursday, Fonseca must get past Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan, who’s ranked No. 46, but has a win over former Top 10er Casper Ruud this year and took the red-hot Daniil Medvedev to five sets in the third round of the Australian Open.

If Alcaraz and Fonseca do meet, Hard Rock Stadium will be packed with two raucous fan bases, making it feel more like a Davis Cup final or a championship futbol match.

World No. 2 Jannik Sinner, who’s also in the hunt for the Sunshine Double after downing Medvedev in Sunday’s final at Indian Wells, is expected to play in Saturday afternoon’s day session. His opponent will be either qualifier Ignacio Buse, ranked No. 63, of Peru or Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Herzegovina, once ranked No. 23. Sinner hasn’t played either.

All of the above matches are tentatively scheduled and are subject to change.