And then there were eight.
Following a rainy start to the tournament that delayed matches and resulted in some hectic days at Hard Rock Stadium, the sun finally emerged and the temperatures climbed. The 96-player draw began to narrow down, signaling the onset of the Sunshine Double and showcasing some impressive tennis.
We’re nearing the end of the Miami Open, with four Top 10 players, including the defending champion, still vying for the trophy.
Here’s a recap of the standout performances from the initial four rounds in Miami in this week’s WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz Roundup.
Star of the Week
Victoria Mboko
While any of the quarterfinalists could be considered, Victoria Mboko stands out, consistently demonstrating her status as a Top 10 competitor.
After a commanding win against Anna Blinkova and an easy victory over Anastasia Zakharova, the 19-year-old Canadian faced Mirra Andreeva for the third time this season. This budding rivalry saw them split their previous encounters, with Mboko emerging victorious in a tightly contested Round of 16 match, winning 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-0.
Breakthrough Player of the Week
Hailey Baptiste
With seven of the eight quarterfinalists ranked in the Top 15 of the PIF WTA Rankings, the exception is Hailey Baptiste, who is enjoying one of the most successful weeks of her career in South Florida. Currently ranked No. 45, Baptiste reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal after a stunning win against Jelena Ostapenko. Earlier in the tournament, she also defeated No. 19 seed Liudmila Samsonova and No. 9 Elina Svitolina, both in straight sets.
Upset of the Week
Magda Linette d. Iga Swiatek [2], second round
This match was more than just an upset; it stands out as one of the biggest upsets of the year. Ranked No. 50, Linette initially dropped the first set decisively but rallied to win the second 7-5 and ultimately seized the third set for a surprising victory with scores of 1-6, 7-5, 6-3. Following her loss, six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek expressed her disappointment and confusion about the match, acknowledging the high expectations she feels.
Biggest Off-Court News of the Week
Swiatek and Wim Fissette part ways
In light of her recent defeat, Swiatek announced via Instagram that she would no longer work with coach Wim Fissette, who she began collaborating with in October 2024 and led her to win Wimbledon. She expressed gratitude for their time together while noting her intention to move forward with the rest of her coaching team intact.
Match of the Week
Asia Muhammad and Erin Routliffe d. Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez, first round
In a thrilling first-round matchup, the pairing of Leylah Fernandez and Venus Williams, who reached the quarterfinals of the US Open last year, started strong, taking the first set 6-3. However, Muhammad and Routliffe leveled the match, leading to an exciting tiebreak where they saved six match points and claimed victory with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 13-11.
