When players enter a tournament that they won the previous year, outside influences often place pressure on them to defend their title. Just ask Daniil Medvedev, the ninth seed in this tournament, who had won 22 different titles – including Miami in 2023 – before winning Dubai for the second time last month. Of course, he didn’t do it over consecutive years.

Learner Tien, the top-ranked young American among his Next Gen peers, was coming off a career-best quarterfinal run in a Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells last week as well as a quarterfinal berth in the Australian Open. Unfortunately the No. 21-ranked Tien didn’t bring that top form to Miami, where he took a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 defeat to 30-year-old Pole Kamil Majchrzak on a packed Grandstand court Saturday.

Iva Jovic is fortunate enough to be part of two very successful cliques on the WTA circuit. First and foremost, she is an 18-year-old American on the rise, and in hopes of joining the illustrious trio of USA players currently residing in the Top 10: No. 4 Coco Gauff, No. 5 Jessica Pegula and No. 6 Amanda Anisimova, and past top tenner Madison Keys.

Carlos Alcaraz attended the Miami Heat-LA Lakers game Thursday night in Miami the night before arguably the most highly anticipated tennis match of the year:  the first meeting between the world No. 1 Spaniard and the Brazilian teen prodigy Joao Fonseca. Nerves? Nah.  From his courtside seat Alcaraz witnessed Lakers superstar Luka Doncic pour in 60 points to lead Los Angeles to victory.

Ethan Quinn fashions himself as a master chef, whipping up a spaghetti bolognese at his home in Boca Raton. On Friday afternoon on Stadium Court in Hard Rock Stadium, the 22-year-old American certainly had the recipe for success in a 6-4, 7-6 (7) victory over former No. 2 Casper Ruud of Norway for his second win over a Top 20 player.

The Canadian flags were flapping in the packed stands on Court 1 Friday morning at the Miami Open as the snowbirds screeched for 18-year-old Victoria Mboko to win her match. No problem for Mboko, who continued the surging teen contingent who are making a tidal-wave-like splash at the Miami Open this week.

For one day only, the Miami Open presented by Itaú brings the spirit of Italy to campus with Italian Heritage Day. Indulge in authentic Italian flavors, soak in the sounds of Italy throughout the grounds, and don’t miss the traditional Parmigiano Reggiano Wheel Cracking Ceremony.

Winning the Miami Open is often a life-changing achievement for young players. Just ask world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who is the youngest Miami Open champion in tournament history, winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title in 2022 at 18.

A few hours before 45-year-old Venus Williams was battling on the Grandstand court at the Miami Open on a beautiful Thursday afternoon, 17-year-old Moise Kouame was making history on an outside court. Sacrebleu! The kid from Paris, who was making his ATP Tour-level debut -- thanks to a wild card -- outlasted Californian qualifier Zachary Svajda 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to become the youngest male player to win a match in Miami and the youngest to claim an ATP Masters 1000 victory since Spanish legend Rafael Nadal did it in 2003. Kouame also became the first player born in 2009 or later to win an ATP Tour match.

Venus Williams walked out on Grandstand Court decked out in all-white, looking like the bride she was at her five-day wedding last year. However, on this pristine Thursday afternoon, Williams was the bridesmaid. In her record 23rd Miami Open, the 45-year-old Williams lost 7-5, 7-5 to Francesca Jones of Great Britain, who was making her Miami debut.