Miami Open heats up as upsets shake field, quarterfinals take shape

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns a shot against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — It’s been a wild stretch at the Miami Open, with major upsets on both the men’s and women’s sides as the tournament heads into the quarterfinals at Hard Rock Stadium.

On the women’s side, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is still rolling, cruising into the quarterfinals with a straight-sets win over Zheng Qinwen.

She’ll now face American Hailey Baptiste, who has been one of the biggest surprises of the tournament with a string of upset victories.

South Florida Native Coco Gauff is also making a strong run on her home court, advancing to her first Miami Open quarterfinal after a three-set win over Sorana Cirstea, of Romania. She’s set to take on Belinda Bencic, of Siwtzerland at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest storylines came early, when Iga Swiatek, of Poland, suffered a shocking first-round exit. Shortly after, she announced that she’s splitting with her coach.

On the men’s side, the draw has been just as unpredictable. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, was knocked out in the third round by American Sebastian Korda in a three-set battle on Sunday, which stands as the biggest upset in the tournament.

With Alcaraz out, Italy’s Jannik Sinner is emerging as a strong favorite. He’s been dominant so far, continuing an impressive run of form with another straight-sets win to reach the later rounds.

There’s been no shortage of drama elsewhere, with American Frances Tiafoe saving match points in a marathon win, and Francisco Cerundolo, of Argentina, pulling off a notable upset over Daniil Medvedev, of Russia.

With the quarterfinals now set, the tournament is shaping up for an exciting finish — and plenty more surprises could still be ahead.

Click here to view the Miami Open tournament bracket.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com/ AssociatedPress.com - All rights reserved.

About The Author
Ryan Mackey

Ryan Mackey

Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born on Long Island, New York, and has lived in Sunrise, Florida, since 1994.