Miami Open Roundup: Alcaraz Triumphs Over Fonseca While Gauff Battles Serving Demons to Eyes No. 3 Spot

Get the latest from the 2026 Miami Open: Carlos Alcaraz defeats Joao Fonseca, Coco Gauff battles serving issues, and Jack Draper exits in a shock loss.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 6:04 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

Alcaraz vs. Fonseca: A Clash of Generations

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Joao Fonseca in their first-ever meeting, but the scoreline only tells part of the story. Alcaraz was quick to praise the 19-year-old Brazilian, noting he "has everything" needed to reach the top, though he cautioned that the public's "lofty expectations" might be premature. For his part, Fonseca offered a candid comparison of the tour’s top two stars, describing Alcaraz’s game as having more "arsenal" compared to the "robotic" and flawless efficiency of world No. 2 Jannik Sinner.

Gauff’s Resilience Amid Technical Struggles

Coco Gauff managed to secure a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 comeback win against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, but the victory was marred by persistent serving issues. In her first match back since a left arm injury at Indian Wells, Gauff struggled with 11 double faults and won a meager 31% of her second-serve points. Despite these "nightmare" statistics, her ability to grind out a win in three sets keeps her title hopes alive and sets the stage for a potential rankings surge.

The Race for World No. 3

The women’s draw was sent into a tailspin following Iga Swiatek’s surprise three-set defeat to fellow Pole Magda Linette. This early exit has major implications for the WTA top three. If Coco Gauff can reach the final in Miami, she will officially leapfrog Swiatek to claim the world No. 3 ranking. The pressure is now on the young American to stabilize her game and capitalize on the opening in the draw.