It was a remarkable day for the local players at the Miami Open, led by Danielle Collins and highlighted by major upsets. Three seeded players were eliminated by American women, while the men didn’t enjoy the same fortune.
Taylor Townsend, Hailey Baptiste, and Ashlyn Krueger pulled off some of the biggest surprises, each taking down a top-20 player. The most notable victory came from Krueger, who ousted former Wimbledon champion and seventh seed Elena Rybakina.
WTA: Americans Rule the Day
The home crowd surely played a role in several upsets in the women’s draw. The first surprise of the day came from World No. 90 Taylor Townsend, who edged past Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 7-6(2), 1-6, 6-1. Townsend showed great composure in key moments, overcoming a tough opening set to knock out a formidable opponent.
The biggest shock came later in the day when 23-year-old qualifier Hailey Baptiste (No. 98) took down 12th seed Daria Kasatkina. Baptiste came back from a set down to unexpectedly eliminate "Dasha," who seemed on course for a routine win.
Adding to the American success, 20-year-old Krueger continued her rise on tour with her first-ever top-10 victory, taking out two-time Miami Open finalist Elena Rybakina. The Kazakh star had been one of the tournament’s top contenders, making Krueger’s win even more remarkable.
Defending champion and 14th seed Danielle Collins was among the few Americans favoured before the matches. The former Australian Open runner-up displayed her comfort on the Miami courts, battling past the ever-tricky Sorana Cirstea (No. 101) 6-4, 7-6(3).
It wasn’t all victories for the home players, though. Lauren Davis fell to Paris 2024 gold medallist Zheng Qinwen, who remains in top form after her Indian Wells campaign. Sofia Kenin was defeated by compatriot Coco Gauff, while Alycia Parks couldn’t get past Canada’s 26th seed Leylah Fernandez.
Danielle's title defense is up and running 🚂
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 21, 2025
Collins claws past Cirstea in straight sets to advance to the #MiamiOpen third round. pic.twitter.com/bxNoIpcvbr
ATP: Giron and Brooksby out, Opelka keeps hopes alive
The American men didn’t enjoy the same success. World No. 44 Marcos Giron, fresh off his first top-5 win over Casper Ruud at Indian Wells, couldn’t replicate that form. Despite taking the first set, he fell to Australia’s Jordan Thompson 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Jenson Brooksby put up a good fight but ultimately lost to Russia’s Roman Safiulin in a tightly contested match. Brooksby, returning to the tour after over a year away due to suspension, showed glimpses of his old level, but Safiulin proved superior under pressure, converting 3/5 break points compared to Brooksby’s 2/9.
In an all-American clash, Reilly Opelka eased past former Wimbledon quarterfinalist Christopher Eubanks in straight sets. After two years sidelined by injury, Opelka has looked physically strong since his return, and this win will surely boost his confidence moving forward.
Closing out the day on the main stadium court, 19-year-old American Learner Tien faced Brazil’s Joao Fonseca. Despite putting up a fight, Tien fell 7-6, 3-6, 4-6, marking his third consecutive loss to Fonseca after two defeats at the Next Gen ATP Finals in December 2024.
Sealed with an ace 💥
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 20, 2025
Reilly Opelka defeats Eubanks 6-3 7-6 for his first Masters match win since 2022! #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/ACcPWqlYcc
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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