Miami Open Preview: Alcaraz, Fonseca, and Veterans Highlight First Round Matchups

March 17, 2026

The draw for the second ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the season has been released, outlining the path for players at the Miami Open presented by Itau, beginning March 29th. Although the top 32 seeds receive a bye into the second round, a number of notable players, including Joao Fonseca, Marin Cilic, and Denis Shapovalov, will need to navigate the first round to advance. The tournament promises compelling early-round action as players vie for a spot in the main draw and a potential run at the title.

Here’s a gaze at some of the most intriguing matches scheduled for the opening rounds in Miami:

Fonseca vs. Marozsan: A Potential Blockbuster Looms

All eyes will be on the match between Joao Fonseca and Fabian Marozsan. The winner of this contest will earn the right to face No. 1 ranked Carlos Alcaraz, the 2022 Miami Open champion, in the second round. Fonseca arrives in South Florida fresh off a career-best performance at Indian Wells, where he reached the fourth round, falling only to Jannik Sinner, the eventual tournament winner, after securing victories over Karen Khachanov and Tommy Paul. The head-to-head record between Fonseca and Marozsan currently favors the Hungarian, 1-0, with Marozsan winning their only previous encounter in Rome in 2025.

Tabilo vs. Comesaña: A First-Time ATP Tour Meeting

The only first-round matchup already set between two players of Hispanic origin will feature Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo against Argentina’s Francisco Comesaña. This will be their first meeting at the ATP Tour level, though they have previously faced off in the quarterfinals of a Challenger event in Florianópolis, Brazil, where Tabilo emerged victorious in three sets. That match was played on clay, while this encounter will be on hard court, three years later, with both players having significantly evolved their games. Tabilo currently holds three ATP Tour titles and is ranked No. 19, while Comesaña is nearing the Top 50. The winner will then face No. 15 seed Andrey Rublev.

Cilic vs. Popyrin: Masters 1000 Champions Clash

Two former ATP Masters 1000 champions will square off in the first round: Marin Cilic, the 2016 Cincinnati champion, and Alexei Popyrin, who won the title in Canada in 2024. Both players are known for their powerful serves, standing close to two meters tall. This will be their fourth career meeting. Cilic has won their most recent two encounters, in Dubai in 2025 and in Miami in 2022 (though that was in the second round). Popyrin’s lone victory came in Singapore in 2021 on an indoor hard court. The victor will advance to face No. 27 seed Brandon Nakashima.

Mpetshi Perricard vs. Ugo Carabelli: A Test for the Argentine

Camilo Ugo Carabelli faces a challenging first-round draw against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, a specialist known for his strong serve. However, the hard courts of Miami hold positive memories for Ugo Carabelli, who reached his first ATP Masters 1000 main draw at this tournament last year after successfully navigating the qualifying rounds. He then advanced to the third round, where he was ultimately stopped by Novak Djokovic. This remains the most significant result of his career at this level. The two players have not previously met. A win for Ugo Carabelli would set up a second-round match against No. 32 seed Sebastian Korda.

Bautista Agut vs. Duckworth: A Rematch with History

Roberto Bautista Agut is one of three Spanish players with direct entry into the first round of the Miami Open, joining top seed Carlos Alcaraz and No. 16 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. To reach the second round, Bautista Agut will need to defeat James Duckworth, a player who won their only previous meeting at the Paris Masters 1000 in 2021.

Veterans in Action: Shapovalov and Berrettini

The first round also features a compelling matchup between two former Top 10 players: Denis Shapovalov and Matteo Berrettini. Shapovalov will open his campaign against Botic van de Zandschulp (their head-to-head record is tied at 1-1) and will aim for a second-round clash with No. 6 seed Taylor Fritz. Berrettini will face Alexander Muller, with No. 10 seed Alexander Bublik awaiting the winner.

The Miami Open promises a thrilling start with these intriguing first-round matchups. Fans can follow all the action as players battle for a chance to lift the trophy on March 29th. For the complete draw and schedule, visit the official ATP Tour website: https://www.atptour.com/es/scores/current/miami/403/draws

The next confirmed checkpoint for the tournament is the start of first-round play on Wednesday, March 18th. Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the Miami Open.

What are your predictions for the Miami Open? Share your thoughts in the comments below!