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Massive Wave of Upsets Hits Miami Open
Top stars like Ben Shelton, Iga Świątek, and Naomi Osaka suffer early exits at the 2026 Miami Open
Mar. 22, 2026 at 3:52am
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The 2026 Miami Open has seen a slew of major upsets, with top-ranked players like Iga Świątek, Naomi Osaka, and Ben Shelton all suffering early exits from the tournament. Numerous seeded players on both the women's and men's sides have been eliminated before reaching the third round, defying predictions from legendary coach Rick Macci about the potential for early upsets due to the faster court conditions at Hard Rock Stadium.
Why it matters
The Miami Open is a prestigious ATP and WTA Masters 1000 event, and these early upsets shake up the tournament landscape and impact the race for year-end rankings and Grand Slam seedings. The surprising results also highlight the depth and competitiveness of men's and women's professional tennis, where any player can have an off day and be vulnerable to an inspired opponent.
The details
On the women's side, World No. 2 Iga Świątek suffered a 6-1, 5-7, 3-6 loss to fellow Polish player Magda Linette in the second round. Other seeded players like Linda Nosková, Naomi Osaka, Clara Tauson, Liudmila Samsonova, Anna Kalinskaya, Wang Xinyu, and Maria Sakkari also exited the tournament early. On the men's side, top seeds like Alex de Minaur, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Luciano Darderi, Learner Tien, Cameron Norrie, and Brandon Nakashima all suffered second-round defeats. Local favorite Ben Shelton, the 8th seed, was also upset by Kazakhstani player Alexander Shevchenko.
- The 2026 Miami Open is currently underway at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
- The tournament runs from March 20-April 2, 2026.
The players
Iga Świątek
The current World No. 2 women's tennis player.
Naomi Osaka
A former World No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion.
Ben Shelton
An American tennis player and the 8th seed at the 2026 Miami Open.
Rick Macci
A legendary American tennis coach who predicted the potential for early upsets at the Miami Open due to the faster court conditions.
Magda Linette
A Polish tennis player who defeated Iga Świątek in the second round.
What they’re saying
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee
The takeaway
The early upsets at the 2026 Miami Open highlight the unpredictable and competitive nature of professional tennis, where even the top-ranked players can be vulnerable on any given day. These surprising results will shake up the tournament landscape and impact the race for year-end rankings and Grand Slam seedings.
