ATP Miami Open Round-Up Day Four | Jannik Sinner & Alexander Zverev deliver routine wins as Ben Shelton suffers surprise defeat
ATPSunday, 22 March 2026 at 03:53
Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev progressed through their opening matches in Miami, while Jakub Mensik kept his title defence alive after dropping the first set. Elsewhere, the draw opened up with notable seeded losses for Ben Shelton, Andrey Rublev and Learner Tien.
The session combined routine wins from leading names with a few meaningful shifts in the bracket. Sinner and Zverev came through comfortably, Medvedev had to recover from a slow start, and Mensik again found a way to stay alive in Miami. Shelton’s defeat to Alexander Shevchenko and Rublev’s loss to Alejandro Tabilo were the main disruptions among the seeds.
Sinner opens with control in straight-sets win
Damir Dzumhur 3-6, 3-6 Jannik Sinner
Sinner began his Miami Open campaign with a controlled straight-sets win over Damir Dzumhur, taking command early in both sets and never allowing the match to become complicated. The Italian secured an early break in each set, held serve consistently and dictated the tempo from the baseline, particularly when Dzumhur was forced into second-serve points.
The pattern of the match was clear from the opening games. Sinner broke at his first real opportunity and consolidated immediately, using his depth through the middle of the court to keep Dzumhur from taking initiative. The second set followed a similar line. Once Sinner moved ahead, he focused on protecting serve and forcing Dzumhur to play from behind.
The full-match numbers underline how secure his performance was. Sinner hit nine aces, won 90% of first-serve points and 69% of second-serve points, while holding all nine service games. On return, he won 35% of Dzumhur’s first-serve points and 61% on second serve, which explains how regularly he was able to apply scoreboard pressure. He moves into the third round with little time spent on court and a solid opening performance.
Match Statistics Damir Dzumhur vs. Jannik Sinner
| Damir Dzumhur | VS | Jannik Sinner |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 1 | Aces | 9 |
| 2 | Double Faults | 2 |
| 65% (37/57) | 1st Service Percentage | 64% (29/45) |
| 62% (23/37) | 1st Service Points Won | 90% (26/29) |
| 40% (8/20) | 2nd Service Points Won | 69% (11/16) |
| 67% (6/9) | Break Points Saved | 100% (1/1) |
| 67% (6/9) | Service Games | 100% (9/9) |
| Return | ||
| 10% (3/29) | 1st Return Points Won | 38% (14/37) |
| 31% (5/16) | 2nd Return Points Won | 60% (12/20) |
Medvedev recovers after dropping a tight opening set
Rei Sakamoto 7-6(10), 3-6, 1-6 Daniil Medvedev
Medvedev came through a more demanding opener, recovering from a set down to defeat Rei Sakamoto in three sets. The Russian was pushed hard in the opening phase, particularly in a long first-set tiebreak, but gradually took control through the second and third sets as his experience and consistency from the baseline began to tell.
Sakamoto stayed level with Medvedev for much of the first set and then edged a 22-point tiebreak after the Russian had saved several set points. From there, Medvedev settled into the match more effectively. He started reading serve better, extended rallies with greater control and forced Sakamoto into more defensive positions. Once he established a break advantage in the second set, the match shifted clearly in his favour, and the decider moved away quickly.
The stats reflect that change in control. Medvedev finished with nine aces, won 82% of first-serve points and saved all six break points he faced. He also held all 14 of his service games. On return, he took 33% of Sakamoto’s first-serve points and 48% of his second-serve points, numbers that became more meaningful as the Japanese player’s level dropped after the opening set. Medvedev advances after a match that required an adjustment rather than immediate control.
Match Statistics Sakamoto vs. Medvedev
| Sakamoto | VS | Medvedev |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 6 | Aces | 9 |
| 2 | Double Faults | 4 |
| 56% (52/93) | 1st Service Percentage | 69% (65/94) |
| 67% (35/52) | 1st Service Points Won | 82% (53/65) |
| 51% (21/41) | 2nd Service Points Won | 52% (15/29) |
| 56% (5/9) | Break Points Saved | 100% (6/6) |
| 71% (10/14) | Service Games | 100% (14/14) |
| Return | ||
| 18% (12/65) | 1st Return Points Won | 33% (17/52) |
| 48% (14/29) | 2nd Return Points Won | 49% (20/41) |
Zverev gives Damm almost nothing on return
Martin Damm Jr 2-6, 4-6 Alexander Zverev
Zverev produced one of the cleanest performances of the day, beating Martin Damm Jr in straight sets with complete authority on serve. The German controlled the opening set comfortably, secured an early break in the second, and closed the match without any late complications despite Damm managing to stay close on the scoreboard for part of the second set.
The first set was largely one-way traffic. Zverev dominated behind both first and second serve, conceded very little in neutral rallies and converted two breaks to move ahead. In the second, he struck early again and then protected the advantage with complete control. Damm held often enough to remain within one break, but he never built real pressure on return and was unable to shift the pattern of the match.
That is fully supported by the match stats. Zverev won 90% of first-serve points and 93% of second-serve points, while holding all eight of his service games. Damm won just 10% of first-return points and 7% of second-return points, which explains why he failed to generate any real openings. Zverev also finished the second set without dropping a point on serve, a clear sign of how little resistance he faced in the closing stretch.
Match Statistics Martin Damm Jr vs. Alexander Zverev
| Martin Damm Jr | VS | Alexander Zverev |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 5 | Aces | 4 |
| 6 | Double Faults | 0 |
| 63% (37/59) | 1st Service Percentage | 62% (24/39) |
| 62% (23/37) | 1st Service Points Won | 92% (22/24) |
| 50% (12/24) | 2nd Service Points Won | 93% (14/15) |
| 63% (5/8) | Break Points Saved | - (0/0) |
| 67% (6/9) | Service Games | 100% (9/9) |
| Return | ||
| 8% (2/24) | 1st Return Points Won | 38% (14/37) |
| 7% (1/15) | 2nd Return Points Won | 50% (12/24) |
Majchrzak ends Tien’s run with stronger finishing stretch
Kamil Majchrzak 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 Learner Tien
Majchrzak defeated Learner Tien in three sets, regaining control in the decider after the American had worked his way back into the match. Tien responded well after a poor opening set, but the Pole took charge again early in the third and managed the closing stages more effectively to secure one of the more notable wins of the round.
Majchrzak was sharper from the start, serving with more stability and taking advantage of Tien’s uneven opening phase to claim the first set. Tien improved in the second, finding enough rhythm on serve and from the baseline to level the match. But that recovery did not carry into the decider. Majchrzak broke early, consolidated, and kept Tien under pressure in service games that became increasingly difficult for the young American to control.
The full-match statistics show where the difference was made. Majchrzak landed 77% of first serves and won 74% of those points, compared with 57% first-serve percentage for Tien. The American hit 10 aces, but his six double faults and 44% success rate on second-serve points hurt him throughout the match. Majchrzak also won 56% of return points against Tien’s second serve, which helped him take control whenever rallies began on neutral terms.
Match Statistics Kamil Majchrzak vs. Learner Tien
| Kamil Majchrzak | VS | Learner Tien |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 6 | Aces | 10 |
| 0 | Double Faults | 6 |
| 77% (54/70) | 1st Service Percentage | 57% (48/84) |
| 74% (40/54) | 1st Service Points Won | 67% (32/48) |
| 53% (9/17) | 2nd Service Points Won | 44% (16/36) |
| 60% (3/5) | Break Points Saved | 62% (8/13) |
| 85% (11/13) | Service Games | 62% (8/13) |
| Return | ||
| 33% (16/48) | 1st Return Points Won | 26% (14/54) |
| 56% (20/36) | 2nd Return Points Won | 47% (8/17) |
Mensik recovers from slow start to continue title defence
Adam Walton 6-3, 2-6, 2-6 Jakub Mensik
Mensik began his title defence with a difficult opening set but recovered well to beat Adam Walton in three. The defending champion was under pressure early as Walton took advantage of a loose stretch, but once Mensik settled on serve and began imposing himself more regularly in first-strike exchanges, the match shifted decisively.
Walton opened strongly, winning four consecutive games in the first set and taking advantage of a hesitant start from Mensik. The response from the Czech was immediate. He broke early in the second set, served with much greater authority and levelled the match without allowing Walton a route back in. In the decider, Mensik repeated that pattern by moving ahead quickly and then holding his service games with greater certainty than he had in the opener.
His serve was the key factor over the full match. Mensik hit 16 aces and won 82% of first-serve points, while Walton won only 57% behind his first serve. The defending champion also won 43% of return points on Walton’s first serve, which is a strong figure across a three-set match. He remains unbeaten in Miami since last year’s title run and now moves into a much bigger test in the next round.
Match Statistics Walton vs. Mensik
| Walton | VS | Mensik |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 6 | Aces | 16 |
| 0 | Double Faults | 4 |
| 65% (54/83) | 1st Service Percentage | 66% (55/83) |
| 57% (31/54) | 1st Service Points Won | 82% (45/55) |
| 66% (19/29) | 2nd Service Points Won | 46% (13/28) |
| 57% (4/7) | Break Points Saved | 78% (7/9) |
| 77% (10/13) | Service Games | 86% (12/14) |
| Return | ||
| 18% (10/55) | 1st Return Points Won | 43% (23/54) |
| 54% (15/28) | 2nd Return Points Won | 34% (10/29) |
Shevchenko overturns Shelton after two tiebreak sets
Ben Shelton 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 3-6 Alexander Shevchenko
Shelton exited in three sets after failing to convert a strong opening into a straight-sets win against Shevchenko. The match was built around serve for long stretches, with the first two sets decided in tiebreaks, but Shevchenko made the decisive move early in the third and protected that lead with authority.
There was little between the players across the opening two sets. Shelton edged the first-set tiebreak after a solid serving display, but Shevchenko stayed composed and matched him throughout the second before taking the breaker to force a decider. The real separation came at the start of the third set, when Shevchenko secured an early break to move 3-0 ahead. From there, Shelton never found a way back on return.
That last point is the most important statistical takeaway. Shelton did not generate a single break point in the match despite hitting 17 aces and winning 81% of first-serve points. Shevchenko, meanwhile, held all 17 of his service games, saved all five break points he faced, and won 64% of second-serve points. In a match with so few openings, Shelton’s inability to apply pressure on return ended up deciding the result.
Match Statistics Ben Shelton vs. Alexander Shevchenko
| Ben Shelton | VS | Alexander Shevchenko |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 17 | Aces | 11 |
| 2 | Double Faults | 2 |
| 69% (68/99) | 1st Service Percentage | 65% (72/111) |
| 81% (55/68) | 1st Service Points Won | 79% (57/72) |
| 58% (18/31) | 2nd Service Points Won | 64% (25/39) |
| 50% (1/2) | Break Points Saved | 100% (5/5) |
| 94% (15/16) | Service Games | 100% (17/17) |
| Return | ||
| 21% (15/72) | 1st Return Points Won | 19% (13/68) |
| 36% (14/39) | 2nd Return Points Won | 42% (13/31) |
Tabilo turns Rublev match around after losing opener
Andrey Rublev 7-6(5), 2-6, 4-6 Alejandro Tabilo
Tabilo recovered from a tight first-set loss to eliminate Rublev in three sets, producing one of the most relevant upsets of the session. The opening set was decided by small margins, but once the Chilean settled into the match, he was the more stable player from the back of the court and the more effective one in return games.
Rublev came through the first set in a tiebreak after both players served well and offered very few chances. Tabilo responded strongly in the second, breaking twice and controlling more of the cross-court exchanges, particularly into Rublev’s backhand side. That pattern carried into the decider. The left-hander secured an early break, consolidated, and then managed the final stages well enough to close the match on serve.
The full-match stats explain how he reversed the contest. Rublev won 83% of first-serve points, but just 33% on second serve, which left him vulnerable whenever the first delivery missed. Tabilo was steadier in that area, winning 57% of second-serve points, and he also won 67% of return points on Rublev’s second serve. Just as important, he held all 14 of his service games without facing a break point, giving Rublev very little room to recover once he fell behind.
Match Statistics Rublev vs. Tabilo
| Rublev | VS | Tabilo |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 15 | Aces | 12 |
| 4 | Double Faults | 5 |
| 67% (66/98) | 1st Service Percentage | 70% (64/92) |
| 83% (55/66) | 1st Service Points Won | 77% (49/64) |
| 33% (10/30) | 2nd Service Points Won | 57% (16/28) |
| 57% (4/7) | Break Points Saved | - (0/0) |
| 80% (12/15) | Service Games | 100% (15/15) |
| Return | ||
| 23% (15/64) | 1st Return Points Won | 17% (11/66) |
| 43% (12/28) | 2nd Return Points Won | 67% (20/30) |
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