Miami Open Upsets: Swiatek, Alcaraz Get Tough Opponents

Swiatek crashes out of Miami Open

Iga Swiatek loses to Magda Linette, while Carlos Alcaraz takes on Joao Fonseca in Miami Open second round. Teenager Moise Kouame stuns in Miami, beats Zachary Svajda to become youngest Masters 1000 winner since Nadal.

“I had to start hitting a little bit faster, too, to push her a little bit more back, not give her space...”

Iga Swiatek's Miami Open campaign ended abruptly as she fell to Magda Linette 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the second round. The Polish world No. 1 was looking to bounce back after a tough start, but Linette's fighting spirit proved too much.

Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion and reigning Wimbledon winner, hadn't lost in the opening round of a tournament since the 2021 WTA Finals. Her 2022 Miami Open title wasn't enough to carry her through against Linette's determined performance.

Iga Swiatek's recent performances haven't been great, with quarter-final exits at the Australian Open, Doha, and Indian Wells. She was seeded second in Miami, but her struggles led to her dropping to third in the world rankings. Elena Rybakina, who reached the Indian Wells final, has jumped to second place, while Aryna Sabalenka remains at the top.

Swiatek's frustration is understandable, given her past dominance. She's struggling to find consistency, and it shows in her results. Dmitry Tursunov, Emma Raducanu's former coach, thinks Swiatek's slump might continue, saying it's unlikely she'll get out of this rut.

Magda Linette battled back from a set down to take down Iga Swiatek, winning 1-6, 7-5, 6-3. Swiatek dominated the opening set, winning it 6-1 in just 33 minutes, but Linette refused to give up.

Linette's determination paid off in the second set, as Swiatek's serve faltered in the 12th game, allowing Linette to break through and force a decider. Linette sealed the win with a return winner, stunning Swiatek with a 7-5, 6-3 victory in the third.

“I just had to go for a little bit more,” Linette told Tennis Channel. “I had to start hitting a little bit faster, too, to push her a little bit more back, not give her space.

"But I think it all started with serving a bit better,” she added.

Swiatek fought hard, saving a pair of match points in the eighth game and two more as Linette served for the win. But Linette held firm, and Swiatek ultimately sealed her fate with a backhand error, sending the ball wide 

TURNED THE TIDES 🌊@MagdaLinette fought hard and rallied back to defeat the No.2 seed Swiatek!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/5rhe1J7ed9

— wta (@WTA) March 20, 2026

“She actually gets really good on those break points down, match points down,“ Linette said. “She starts swinging. I just knew I had to stay strong on my serve.”

Magda Linette will face Alexandra Eala in the third round after her upset win over Iga Swiatek. Eala, 20, earned her spot with a thrilling 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-3 win over Laura Siegemund. “It really was close,” Eala said, after a grueling 3-hour 20-minute match.

“It was demanding, physically and mentally. But that was one of my goals last year after the tournament, to improve physically, and here I am fresh as a flower.”

Alexandra Eala, 29th-ranked, took on her toughest challenge yet, beating Laura Siegemund in a marathon match. The 20-year-old had previously shocked Swiatek in last year's Miami Open quarters, and her winning streak continues.

Meanwhile, 45-year-old Venus Williams' Miami Open campaign ended quickly, losing 7-5, 7-5 to Francesca Jones. Jones will now face Jessica Pegula, last year's runner-up, in the second round.

19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca outlasted Hungary's Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, to book a second-round match with world number one Carlos Alcaraz.

Fonseca, ranked 39th, was strongly backed by Brazilian fans as he booked a first-ever meeting with Alcaraz and his second marquee contest in as many tournaments after falling to Jannik Sinner at Indian Wells last week.

French 17-year-old Moise Kouame stunned qualifier Zachary Svajda 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to become the youngest player to win an ATP Masters 1000 match since Rafael Nadal in 2003. Kouame, a wild card entrant, will now face 21st seed Jiri Lehecka in the next round.

Kouame battled cramping to secure the win and was overjoyed to receive a congratulatory message from his idol Novak Djokovic.

“He texted me something really, really nice,” Kouame said. “I don't know how I'm going to answer. Hopefully I can meet him... it will be my dream.”