The first week of the Miami Open delivered compelling storylines, moving beyond typical March Madness unpredictability. While Indian Wells male semifinalists faced early exits, the top women`s seeds largely maintained their strong form.
However, a significant upset occurred when Filipino teenager Alexandra Eala defeated Australian Open champion Madison Keys. Eala, ranked significantly lower than Keys, has now won more main-draw matches in Miami than any other player from the Philippines in the Open Era.
Despite this surprise, the Round of 16 features many familiar faces. Five of the top six seeds, including Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Jasmine Paolini, are still in contention. Defending champion Danielle Collins, Naomi Osaka, and Emma Raducanu also remain in the draw.
All Round of 16 matches are scheduled for Monday, promising exciting matchups.
Here’s a recap of the first week and a preview of what`s ahead at the Miami Open:
Week 1 Standouts
Dominant Performance: Coco Gauff achieved her second career “double bagel” victory, defeating Sofia Kenin 6-0, 6-0, and followed it up with a win over Maria Sakkari. Gauff attributed her success to not focusing on the shutouts.
Match of the Week: Naomi Osaka secured a hard-fought victory against Hailey Baptiste in a nearly three-hour match. Osaka`s resilience and ability to win tight matches were key to her progress.
Emerging Talent: Amidst Eala`s upset, 18-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko earned her first tour-level win. Mboko, despite losing to Paula Badosa in the following round, boasts an impressive 28-2 record this year, including five ITF titles.
Point of the Tournament: A remarkable point was played by Viktoriya Tomova against Aryna Sabalenka.
Key Stats
Best Stat: Emma Navarro and Emma Raducanu`s match marked the first time two players with the same first name competed at the Miami Open since 2008.
Consistent Swiatek: Iga Swiatek is the first player since 2009 to reach the Round of 16 in 25 consecutive WTA 1000 events.
Unexpected Loss: Elena Rybakina, despite winning 22 consecutive service points in a match against Ashlyn Krueger, including a perfect second set on serve, still lost the match.
Throwback Matchup: Taylor Townsend and Yulia Putintseva played again 13 years after their Australian Open junior final, with Townsend winning in three sets.
Andreeva`s Week
Quote of the Week: Mirra Andreeva expressed disbelief at her rapid success, pondering her next steps after achieving her dreams.
Andreeva`s Run Ends: Andreeva`s impressive run was halted by Amanda Anisimova in a late-night, three-hour match.
LeBron`s Recognition: Despite the loss, Andreeva received encouragement from LeBron James, who acknowledged her hard work and dedication after she quoted him following a previous victory.
Odds and Ends
Underarm Ace: Marta Kostyuk surprised Anna Blinkova with an underarm serve ace on match point to secure her win.
Match Point Saves: Kimberly Birrell and Alycia Parks both won matches after saving match points in the first round.
Sabalenka on Motherhood: Aryna Sabalenka humorously deflected questions about motherhood, stating it might be something for the distant future.
Raducanu`s Routine: Emma Raducanu`s improved form may be linked to a new warmup routine involving American football throws with her trainer.
Looking Ahead to Monday
Monday`s schedule at the Miami Open is packed with blockbuster matches:
- Aryna Sabalenka vs. Danielle Collins
- Iga Swiatek vs. Elina Svitolina
- Coco Gauff vs. Magda Linette
- Jessica Pegula vs. Marta Kostyuk
- Jasmine Paolini vs. Naomi Osaka
- Zheng Qinwen vs. Ashlyn Krueger
- Paula Badosa vs. Alexandra Eala
- Amanda Anisimova vs. Emma Raducanu
The day`s matches promise high-stakes tennis and compelling competition.
