Jovic makes statement, Stephens’ return ends at sun-soaked Miami Open
Court 2 looked full before the first ball even bounced.
Fans packed the bleachers shoulder to shoulder in the early Miami heat, squeezing into every sliver of shade they could find. Late arrivals climbed to the top rows on nearby courts just to catch a glimpse, while hand fans flicked nonstop through the already sticky morning, 75 degrees with 63% humidity.
It was the kind of scene that reminds you what the Miami Open does best: turn a normal Saturday into a roaming sports day, where you can watch an 18-year-old American roll through a former world No. 2, then walk a few minutes and catch a South Florida favorite on the next match, then still have time to see the biggest names handle business in the main stadium.
Jovic opens with a statement
American teenager Iva Jovic started it all by taking apart Paula Badosa 6-2, 6-1 in a match that never felt like it was slipping. Badosa has been one of the sport’s top players before, but Jovic played like someone who arrived expecting to control the pace.
The longest games were the loudest, especially when the crowd tried to will Badosa back into it, but Jovic kept answering. More than once between points, she talked to herself, patted her leg and pushed out a quick, “Come on, let’s go,” then stepped right back in with the same calm body language.
Jovic finished with two aces and converted 6 of 14 break points, a combination that made the match move fast and made the scoreboard look honest. She will face Australian Talia Gibson after Gibson picked up an upset win against Naomi Osaka later in the afternoon.
Stephens draws a different kind of pull
The next match on Court 2 carried a different energy. Sloane Stephens, the South Florida native and a former Miami Open champion, walked on court to a crowd that felt more personal than massive. “Let’s go Sloane!” popped up in pockets, while a noticeable group of Chinese supporters brought their own volume for Qinwen Zheng.
Stephens battled, but Zheng’s serve and power kept leaning the match away from her. Zheng won 6-3, 6-2, finishing with seven aces and pulling away late in the first set, then again early in the second. Stephens had stretches where she looked ready to flip a game, then showed visible frustration when points slipped, tapping her racket after a miss before locking back in.
One of the loudest supporters in the stands was Shawn Fink, 35, a Wellington native who said he and his wife have made the Miami Open a yearly tradition.
“We’ve been the last three years. This is our fourth year,” Fink said.
He called it the best value in sports, and the event he circles on the calendar.
“It’s our favorite sporting event out of anything,” Fink said.
“It’s our favorite sporting event out of anything,” he said. “I’ve been to the US Open for tennis in New York. I’ve been to the Masters, TPC, been to a lot of big sporting events, playoff Marlins games. You name it, the Miami Open is our favorite… It’s our favorite thing of the year. I told a guy earlier, ‘This is our Super Bowl’, the Miami Open.”
Fink said Saturday was his first time seeing Stephens in person.
“We’ve never seen Sloane play,” he said. “We wanted to come show our support and see her while she’s still out there. We don’t know how many years left we have with Sloane, so it was important for us to be able to see a player like her because you never know.”
Even in a loss, Fink said the atmosphere around Stephens’ match still felt like the point of the tournament.
“It was really cool to see the support internationally grow for the game,” he said, pointing to the Chinese supporters in the crowd. “Even though we were pulling for Sloane… Sloane’s a great competitor. She did her best.”
Headliners keep the day moving
If Court 2 was where the day felt closest, the main stadium was where it felt biggest.
Jessica Pegula, the world No. 5 and the second-ranked American behind Coco Gauff, moved quickly against Britain’s Francesca Jones, leading 6-1, 3-0 when Jones’ day ended. Pegula hit five aces and never let the match settle into anything complicated.
Jannik Sinner followed with a straight-sets win of his own, beating Damir Džumhur 6-3, 6-3 behind nine aces and a first serve that kept him in control from the start. When it ended, the moment turned into a Miami Open staple. The announcer pushed the noise up another notch.
“Miami, let’s hear it for Jannik Sinner,” he said.
The crowd erupted into cheers and clapping.
Sinner took off his cap and waved to the crowd, then kept it short in his on-court interview.
“Thanks for the support and see you next round.”
