“Mayhem has reigned at the Miami Open. While one expects the odd upset at any Masters 1000 or Major, it is highly irregular for 12 out of the Top 20 ATP seeds, including World No 1, Carlos Alcaraz, to be given their marching orders by round 3, considering all started with the benefit of a bye.”

“Most of the damage was done by a handful of red-hot youngsters, Frenchman Arthur Fils, American’s Ethan Quinn and Alex Michelsen, and Czech Jiri Lehecka, not to mention an unknown Spanish qualifier, Martín Landaluce.”

“The common denominator between Fils, Fonseca, Lehecka and Michelsen is that all have suffered either a bad back injury, or in the case of the latter, a viral illness which kept them respectively sidelined for a lengthy period.”

“Most notably surging ahead to 11th in the rankings is 21-year-old Fils, who has reached the Quarters of Montpellier, Indian Wells & Miami, losing the final in Doha to Alcaraz.”

“Fils has adopted a more professional approach since his 2025 recuperation and now travels with his own physio, enlisting the aid of former World No 2 Goran Ivanisevic for the Sunshine Double.”

“Fils has also eliminated his consumption of choc chip cookies, all too readily available in the men’s locker rooms.”

“Landaluce, meanwhile, attributes his sudden success to his 'calm habits that help me do things naturally every day.'”

“The teflon scalps he has bagged at the 'Hard Rock', being the 14th & 32nd seeds Khachanov and Korda.”

“The standard of Challenger events, attracting the top 150 players in the world is presently off the charts, which — according to Fils — 'is why some players can take ... over a year to break through.'”

“When one analyses the 2025 breakthrough of British No 1 Jack Draper, earning his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, followed by Czechian teenager Jakub Mensik repeating this feat at Miami and the fact they have been upstaged by fellow teens only a year later, it illustrates the present depth and strength of men’s tennis.”

“Defending champion Jakub Mensik, who beat Sinner in Doha in February, should not be one of the 'babies' tossed out with the bathwater in Miami.”

“Lehecka, as the seeded player, fittingly cancelled out Landaluce’s impressive run 7-6(1) 7-5, the first of the 'Comeback Kids' to reach the semis.”

“Tiafoe had to save two match points in spectacular Alcarazesque fashion to prevail against this formidable Czech and that cookie in the changing room crumbled the American’s way, with roaring support from the partisan crowd, finally pushing 'Big Foe' over the line.”

“Fils, too, did not disappoint and made another Herculean effort to narrowly defeat American Tommy Paul 6-7 7-6 7-6.”

“Alcaraz could not buy a first serve — the serve modelled on four times Sunshine Double winner Novak Djokovic supposedly infallible.”

“Alcaraz was overheard exclaiming in the dressing room after his loss to Korda: 'I cant stand it anymore! I’m going home!'”