World No. 60 Joao Fonseca and American Learner Tien will be the protagonists of a first-round showdown at the 2025 Miami Open presented by Itau on Wednesday, a rematch of their Next Gen Finals enthralling clash.
Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca arrived in Miami following a history-making triumph at the Arizona Tennis Classic, becoming the second-youngest player from South America to win three Challenger titles aged 18 and under in Phoenix last weekend.
On Sunday, the 18-year-old who captured his maiden title at tour level in Buenos Aires by mid-February also joined world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells runner-up Holger Rune and world No. 19 Felix Auger-Aliassime as the fifth-youngest player to claim multiple Challenger titles in a single season since 2018.
With the wind in his sails, the player born in Rio de Janeiro now prepares to debut at the Miami Open presented by Itau, the second Masters 1000 of the new season.
Fonseca will square off against home hope Learner Tien, setting off first-round action in Miami Gardens, a rematch of their most recent encounter in Jeddah, where the former clinched the Next Gen Finals title by defeating his opponent in an enthralling final.
Ever since, the first Brazilian player to lift the prestigious trophy has never looked back, carrying momentum into 2025, entering the Masters 1000 in Florida, having achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 60.
Meanwhile, Tien, competing in his main draw at the event, will attempt to avenge his loss to Fonseca at the year-end venue.
22024 was a breakthrough season for the 19-year-old from California, who started the year ranked at No. 453 and climbed to a career-high No. 122 in the world.
Continuing his run of form, the left-handed left his mark at the 2025 Australian Open, finding his way to the fourth round from qualifying.
His spirited campaign was highlighted by a five-set upset for the ages over three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev in nearly five hours at Margaret Court Arena.
Late in February, he qualified for the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time.
His dream week in Acapulco would end at the hands of eventual champion Czech Tomas Machac, but in the round of 16, he produced the biggest win of his career, shocking world No. 2 Alexander Zverev in straight sets.
Following an early exit in Indian Wells, the American landed in Miami at a career-high of world No. 66, continuing to evolve as a player and with nothing to lose.
