Miami Open 2026: Cerúndolo, Korda & Sinner in Action – Round 3 Preview

Preview: Cerúndolo Looks to Continue Miami Success

Round of 16 matches initiate Tuesday in Miami

March 24, 2026

The Miami Open presented by Itau kicks off its round of 16 on Tuesday, giving top contenders a chance to establish their dominance. The second ATP Masters 1000 event of the season is reaching its critical stages, testing players’ endurance as they move closer to the trophy. With the world No. 1 and defending champion already eliminated, numerous hopefuls are sharpening their games to write a new chapter in Florida.

ATPTour.com previews some of the most anticipated matches of the day in Miami:

[31] Ugo Humbert vs [19] Francisco Cerúndolo
Francisco Cerúndolo is looking to continue his strong connection with the Miami tournament, aiming for a quarterfinal appearance for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The Argentine enters the important rounds with momentum, having defeated Daniil Medvedev in his previous match. One of the players with the most powerful shots on the ATP Tour, Cerúndolo feels at home in a tournament where he receives special support from the Latin American crowd. Fresh off a title win in Buenos Aires weeks ago, Cerúndolo is showcasing his best form when connecting with the fans.

Cerúndolo will need to be sharp against Ugo Humbert, a talented player on hard courts. Having reached the Adelaide final earlier this season, the Frenchman will attempt to achieve his best Miami performance and become a contender in the bottom half of the draw. Cerúndolo currently leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head 1-0, with their first encounter being a tough three-set battle on clay during the Paris Olympics.

[32] Sebastian Korda vs. [Q] Martín Landaluce
Here’s shaping up to be the most emotionally charged match of the day. #NextGenATP Spaniard Martín Landaluce continues to have a breakthrough tournament, gaining valuable experience against top players. After navigating the qualifying rounds, the Madrid native reaches the third round of an ATP Masters 1000 after defeating two Top 20 players (Luciano Darderi, Karen Khachanov), demonstrating his courage when the odds are stacked against him. He’ll need that same resilience on Tuesday.

He’ll face American Sebastian Korda, who is riding high after upsetting world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and enjoying strong support from the home crowd. Korda’s aggressive game, capable of quickly turning points, will be a test of psychological endurance for the Spaniard. Having competed in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF at the finish of last season alongside the circuit’s most promising talents, Landaluce is becoming accustomed to facing seasoned rivals. A win would move Landaluce to the brink of the Top 100, a goal increasingly within reach at 20 years old.

[29] Tomás Martín Etcheverry vs [22] Tommy Paul
When a player competes with freedom, special things can happen. After lifting his first title in Rio de Janeiro, Etcheverry will seek his first quarterfinal appearance at an ATP Masters 1000. This string of milestones, concentrated in a few weeks, makes the Argentine one of the most in-form players on the ATP Tour. With his confidence soaring, Etcheverry will try to seize advantage of the humidity in Miami to add extra weight to his shots. If there’s a player with the potential to upset expectations, many believe he’s the one.

The Argentine will have a key assignment on Tuesday on the Grandstand court, where he will face No. 22 seed Tommy Paul. In a first-time Lexus ATP Head2Head encounter, Etcheverry will play a crucial match to secure a place in the Top 30 before the European clay-court swing. One of the most notable hitters on the circuit, Etcheverry will attempt to overwhelm Paul’s speed and tactical play. The American has survived intense deciding sets in his first two rounds in Miami, the type of battle Etcheverry has collected throughout the circuit.

Alex Michelsen vs [2] Jannik Sinner
The possibility of gaining ground towards the top accompanies Sinner in every match in Miami, where points will accumulate quickly following Carlos Alcaraz’s elimination. The Italian wants to reassert his dominance in the second ATP Masters 1000 event of the season, where he has competed for the trophy in three editions. With his recent conquest of Indian Wells as proof of strength, the world No. 2 has a challenge ahead: to demonstrate his talent to link great performances on the biggest stages.

Sinner will try to keep his focus on Alex Michelsen with a strong argument in his favor: 26 consecutive sets won in ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, something no one had achieved in the entire history of the category. The American will have to decipher an untouchable player, whom he couldn’t challenge in their previous encounters. Sinner leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head 2-0, having nullified his opponent’s home advantage in Cincinnati and New York in the past. Will history repeat itself on Tuesday in Miami?

View the complete order of play