Fils and Lehecka to Clash in Miami Masters 1000 Semifinal

Two rising stars seek first career ATP Masters 1000 final berth

Mar. 27, 2026 at 1:20am

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Frenchman Arthur Fils and Czech Jiri Lehecka will face off in the semifinals of the Miami Open presented by Itau on Friday. Fils, 21, is seeking his first ATP Masters 1000 final after saving four match points to reach the semis. Lehecka, 24, is also aiming for his maiden Masters 1000 final appearance, having previously reached the semifinals in Madrid in 2024 before retiring due to injury. The pair have met three times before, with Fils holding a 2-1 head-to-head advantage.

Why it matters

This semifinal matchup features two of the ATP Tour's brightest young talents, both of whom have overcome injury setbacks in their careers. The winner will make a major breakthrough by earning a spot in the prestigious Miami Masters 1000 final, a milestone achievement that could help define the early years of their respective careers.

The details

Fils, the 28th seed, has impressed with his flair, fearless shotmaking and never-say-die attitude, reaching his first Masters 1000 semifinal after saving four match points against Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals. Lehecka, the 21st seed, is also making his second career Masters 1000 semifinal appearance, having previously reached this stage in Madrid 2024 before retiring due to a back injury.

  • The Miami Open presented by Itau semifinals will take place on Friday, March 27, 2026.
  • Fils saved four match points to reach the semifinals on March 26, 2026.

The players

Arthur Fils

A 21-year-old Frenchman who has captured the imagination of fans with his exciting style of play. Fils has already won ATP titles in Lyon, Hamburg and Tokyo, and is now seeking his first career ATP Masters 1000 final appearance.

Jiri Lehecka

A 24-year-old Czech player who is making his second career ATP Masters 1000 semifinal appearance. Lehecka reached the semifinals in Madrid in 2024 before retiring due to a back injury, and is now looking to go one step further in Miami.

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What they’re saying

“I think I'm a completely different player since that moment. It was one of my first big tournaments where I went far. The match against Rafael Nadal in Madrid was a lifetime experience, but I still felt new in those late stages.”

— Jiri Lehecka

“That's the best result I've had in my life so far. I will try to do my best in the semis, but now I'm pretty happy.”

— Arthur Fils

What’s next

The winner of the Fils-Lehecka semifinal will advance to the final of the Miami Open presented by Itau on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

The takeaway

This semifinal matchup showcases the bright future of men's tennis, with two rising stars seeking to make a major breakthrough by earning their first career ATP Masters 1000 final berth. Whichever player emerges victorious will have taken a significant step forward in their development and established themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the ATP Tour.