Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are on a collision course at Hard Rock Stadium. With Djokovic out and the draw reshaped by 20 withdrawals, could Miami 2026 deliver a historic final between the world's top two?

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are on course to meet in the Miami Open final for the first time, with the draw at Hard Rock Stadium placing the sport's two dominant forces on a collision path through a field thinned by the withdrawal of four Grand Slam champions.

The tournament, now in its second round, carries extra weight for both men. Sinner arrives in Miami Gardens fresh off an Indian Wells title in which he dropped not a single set, while Alcaraz - beaten in that tournament - is chasing a second Miami crown after his 2022 triumph. A potential final between the pair has energised what shapes as the event's central narrative.

How Djokovic, Raducanu and the Withdrawals Reshaped the Draw

The field was thinned before a ball was struck in the main draw by 20 withdrawals across both singles events, including four Grand Slam champions. Novak Djokovic - a 24-time major winner, six-time Miami champion, and runner-up here last year - pulled out with a right shoulder injury, a development that also elevated Lorenzo Musetti to fourth seed. Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, withdrew with illness, while Wimbledon champions Marketa Vondrousova and Barbora Krejcikova also departed the women's draw before play began.

The absences reshaped both sections significantly. Thirteen women in total withdrew, with Emma Navarro and Maya Joint among those absent from what would have been seeded positions. Seven men withdrew from the ATP draw, including Holger Rune and Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

The remaining field is still formidable. Daniil Medvedev - the Indian Wells runner-up and 2023 Miami champion - sits in Sinner's half alongside third seed Alexander Zverev. Jack Draper, who eliminated Djokovic at Indian Wells, is another genuine threat in the draw.

What Alcaraz and Sinner Face on the Way to the Final

Sinner's path to the final is far from routine. The world No. 2 is projected to face seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals, with Medvedev and Andrey Rublev also sitting in his section. Miami's faster hard courts have historically suited Sinner, who has reached three finals at the event and won the title in 2024.

Alcaraz, the world No. 1, faces challenges from the opening rounds. He is drawn to potentially meet Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca - who pushed Sinner to two tiebreakers at Indian Wells - as early as the second round, before a projected quarterfinal against sixth seed Taylor Fritz. The Spaniard last won Miami in 2022 and has not reclaimed the title since.

Defending ATP champion Jakub Mensik enters as title holder for the first time, while Aryna Sabalenka returns as defending women's champion.

Men's quarterfinals at Hard Rock Stadium are scheduled for March 25, which falls in the early hours of March 26 AEDT. Should Alcaraz and Sinner both navigate their respective halves, Miami 2026 would deliver the first-ever Miami Open final between the world's top two ranked players.

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