Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka win Miami openers

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz delivered a composed performance on Friday, defeating rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the third round of the Miami Open. The 22-year-old Spaniard secured an early break in each set and saved all three break points he faced, producing a confident display at Hard Rock Stadium, where the 19-year-old Fonseca had strong crowd support."I was really good from the beginning until the last ball," Alcaraz said. "I know how good Joao is and that's why I was really focused, every point, every shot, trying to figure out what is the best possible shot for me."

Alcaraz bounced back strongly from his semi-final loss to Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells last week, improving his 2026 record to 17-1.His season already includes an Australian Open title — making him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam — along with a title in Doha.

Alcaraz took control early, breaking for a 2-1 lead in the opening set with a blistering forehand return winner on break point. He wrapped up the set with a love game, broke again at the start of the second, and sealed the win with his eighth ace on match point.The victory was particularly satisfying after his shock opening-round defeat to David Goffin in Miami last year."He had a lot of chances to stay in the match to (keep it) tight, so I'm just happy to stay calm, stay positive at these moments," said Alcaraz, who will next face American Sebastian Korda, a 6-0, 6-3 winner over Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

In the women’s draw, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka held off American Ann Li 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to begin her Miami title defence.The Belarusian needed more than an hour to clinch the opening set after letting a 4-1 lead slip and failing to convert seven break points in the eighth game, in a match shifted to a smaller court due to rain delays."I was there, I was fighting no matter what, even though my game probably wasn't the best one that I have," Sabalenka said.Fourth-seeded American Coco Gauff and sixth-seeded compatriot Amanda Anisimova also progressed to the third round.French Open champion Gauff rallied to beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a rain-delayed contest, while Anisimova edged past Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.It was Gauff’s first match since retiring from her third-round clash at Indian Wells due to "scary" pain in her left arm, but she said the injury is improving."I might feel it sometimes on court, but I definitely feel it less and less every day," Gauff said.Reflecting on her match, she added: "She takes the ball so early, you don't have a lot of time to react. Today, once I got adjusted to the tempo of play I was able to control the rallies when they went the distance."Elsewhere, American Ethan Quinn stunned 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-4, 7-6 (9/7), saving seven set points in the second set.Japanese wildcard Rei Sakamoto claimed his maiden ATP Tour win, converting his fifth match point in a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic.The 19-year-old will now face in-form Indian Wells finalist Medvedev in the next round.