The 2026 Miami Open main draw officially begins today, March 18, with World No. 1 and recent Indian Wells champion Jannik Sinner looking to complete the prestigious "Sunshine Double". Sinner enters the tournament as the man to beat after an undefeated run in Indian Wells, where he reclaimed his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz by defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final. However, tournament organizers announced a schedule change for today’s opening matches, moving all play to the outer courts due to heavy rainfall affecting the Stadium Court. 

On the women's side, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is the defending champion and arrives in Miami fresh off her Indian Wells title win. She faces stiff competition from a deep field including Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina. Today's opening round features several high-profile debuts, including Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas, while fans eagerly await the potential second round collision between Alcaraz and the winner of the Joao Fonseca vs. Fabian Marozsan match. 

The tournament continues through next week at the Hard Rock Stadium, which features a unique stadium within a football stadium layout. While Alcaraz and Sinner are the favorites, dark horses like last year's champion Jakub Mensik, who famously stunned Novak Djokovic in 2025, remain a threat to the top seeds. Technical preparations for the main Stadium Court are expected to be completed by Thursday to resume full tournament play.