Joao Fonseca books Carlos Alcaraz blockbuster at Miami Open, wins first round

Joao Fonseca ensured a blockbuster second round will take place at the 2026 Miami Open, defeating Fabian Marozsan, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to book a meeting with ATP world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.

Unseeded at the Hard Rock Stadium, the 19-year-old Brazilian was one of the men’s draws most dangerous floaters—especially after pushing world No. 2 Jannik Sinner to the limit last week at the BNP Paribas Open—and will now get his opportunity against Alcaraz after a one-hour, 50-minute victory over Marozsan on Stadium Court.

After an injury-addled start to his 2026 season, Fonseca has found his form through the Sunshine Swing, scoring back-to-back wins over Karen Khachanov and Tommy Paul before forcing Sinner to a pair of tiebreakers in Indian Wells.

Fonseca headed to Miami to celebrate the anniversary of his Masters 1000 breakthrough, where he reached the third round and became his country’s brightest young star. Miami Open tournament director James Blake promised Fonseca’s matches would be on the biggest courts to accommodate his thousands of loyal fans.

“Fonseca needs to be on Stadium,” Blake said earlier this week. “He will be, yes.”

Blake made good on his promise for Fonseca’s first round, which had been delayed due to inclement weather at the start of the tournament, and the Brazilian hit the ground running against his Hungarian opposition. Scoring the long break of the opening set, Fonseca saved a break point to serve it out and put himself on the brink of a highly-anticipated match against Alcaraz.

But Marozsan already boasts a win over the reigning Roland Garros, US Open, and Australian Open champion—stunning the Spaniard at the 2023 Internazionali BNL d’Italia—and stormed back to force a decider.

Aided by his tremendous forehand, Fonseca got back on track early in the third, winning the first three games and pumped up the volume with the finish line in sight. Breaking a second time, Fonseca clinched the win in just under two hours.

This will be the first meeting between Fonseca and Alcaraz, who was 16-0 to start the 2026 season before incurring his first defeat in the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open—losing to Daniil Medvedev.

It will be Alcaraz’s first match of the week, as he was awarded a first-round bye.