Miami Gardens, Fla. — The **Miami Open presented by Itau**, the second leg of the prestigious Sunshine Double, kicks off its main draw Wednesday with a loaded men's singles field led by World No. 1 **Carlos Alcaraz** and No. 2 **Jannik Sinner**. The ATP Masters 1000 event, running March 18-29 at Hard Rock Stadium, features high-stakes action on the fast hard courts, where Alcaraz seeks redemption after a semifinal exit at Indian Wells and Sinner aims to build on his BNP Paribas Open triumph.

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz fell short in his bid for a third straight Wimbledon title
Carlos Alcaraz AFP

Alcaraz, the top seed and 2022 Miami champion, enters with a 16-1 record in 2026 but suffered his first loss of the year to **Daniil Medvedev** in the Indian Wells semifinals. The Spaniard, known for his explosive athleticism and shot-making, has minimal points to defend from last year's early exit and could solidify his grip on No. 1 with a deep run. His quarter includes potential fireworks, starting against a qualifier or lucky loser, but a blockbuster second-round clash looms if rising Brazilian talent **Joao Fonseca** defeats **Fabian Marozsan** in the opener. Fonseca, a crowd favorite in Miami, brings flair and power that could test Alcaraz early.

Further down the bracket, Alcaraz could face American **Taylor Fritz** (No. 6 seed) in the quarterfinals, a matchup pitting the Spaniard's variety against Fritz's big serve and baseline consistency. Other threats in the section include **Casper Ruud** (No. 11), **Karen Khachanov** (No. 14), **Luciano Darderi** (No. 17) and **Jack Draper** (No. 12 in some listings, but varying seeds). Analysts highlight the quarter as tough for Alcaraz, with Fritz projected by some to upset him en route to the semis.

In the opposite half, Sinner — fresh off his Indian Wells title without dropping a set — arrives as the clear favorite on the surface. The Italian has reached three Miami finals and thrives in the conditions, blending precision baseline play with clutch serving. With no points to defend from missing last year, every win boosts his ranking chase against Alcaraz. Sinner's path includes potential encounters with **Felix Auger-Aliassime** (No. 7) in the quarters and Americans like **Ben Shelton** (No. 8 or 9) in the round of 16.

Sinner shares his half with third seed **Alexander Zverev** and in-form **Medvedev** (No. 9 seed), who upset Alcaraz in Indian Wells before falling to Sinner in the final. Medvedev, riding momentum from Dubai and Indian Wells, faces a challenging route with possible meetings against **Francisco Cerundolo** (a Miami specialist), Shelton and Zverev. Experts praise Medvedev's elite defense and recent aggression, positioning him as a strong contender despite the draw.

The bottom quarter features defending champion **Jakub Mensik** (No. 12 seed), who stunned the field last year, alongside **Andrey Rublev** (No. 15) and others. The section appears more open, with dark horses like **Learner Tien**, **Tommy Paul** and **Frances Tiafoe** capable of runs fueled by home support.

Notable absences include six-time champion **Novak Djokovic**, who withdrew due to a right shoulder injury, exiting the Top 3 ahead of the clay swing. Other withdrawals, such as **Holger Rune** and **Tallon Griekspoor**, thinned the field slightly, but 30 of the top 32 entered, ensuring depth.

Home hopes rest on Americans Fritz, Shelton, Paul, Tiafoe and rising stars like **Ethan Quinn** and Tien. Only one U.S. man — John Isner in 2018 — has won Miami in the past 15 years, but the crowd at Hard Rock Stadium could provide an edge.

The draw, released March 16, sets up intriguing early matchups: Alcaraz vs. potential Fonseca, Medvedev's gauntlet and Sinner's steady path. Predictions vary, with some favoring Sinner to complete a Sunshine Double push (though rare), others backing Medvedev's hot streak or Alcaraz's bounce-back ability. Betting markets list Sinner and Alcaraz as co-favorites, followed by Medvedev and Zverev.

The tournament schedule ramps up quickly: Qualifying wrapped Tuesday, with first-round action Wednesday at 11 a.m. and evening sessions at 7 p.m. Quarterfinals hit Friday, March 27, semifinals Saturday and the men's final Sunday, March 29, not before 3 p.m.

As the new generation — Alcaraz (22), Sinner (24) — dominates headlines, Miami offers another chapter in their rivalry. They can only meet in the final, promising high drama if both navigate their sections. With big serves thriving on the courts and physical demands testing endurance, the event promises upsets, clutch moments and potentially another classic showdown.

Fans can expect electric atmosphere, star power and competitive tennis as the Sunshine Double concludes in South Florida. Whether Alcaraz reclaims momentum, Sinner extends his dominance or a surprise emerges, the 2026 Miami Open men's draw delivers must-watch action.