Can the five active former champions of the Miami Masters defend their past glory?

At last week's Indian Wells Masters, all five active former champions participated and were concentrated in the top half, competing for the sole ticket to the final. It was shocking that all five former champions performed poorly, with none managing to break through and advance to the final.

The first to stumble was Fritz, the 2022 Indian Wells Masters champion and American dad. In the third round, the seventh-seeded Fritz surprisingly lost in two sets to his compatriot Michelsen, exiting hastily; the five-time champion, Serbian superstar Djokovic, fought hard in a three-set match in the 1/8 finals against the defending champion, British youngster Draper, but ultimately lost.

After sending off the veteran Djokovic, Draper faced Russian Tsar Medvedev in the quarterfinals, but unfortunately lost in two sets. In the last quarterfinal of the top half, two former champions, world number one Alcaraz (2023, 2024 champion) and British veteran Norrie (2021 champion), battled each other, with Alcaraz winning in two sets, achieving sweet revenge for his loss to Norrie in the second round of last year's Paris Masters.

In the top half semifinal, Medvedev's performance was nearly perfect: his serve was on point, his attacks were highly aggressive, and his defense was omnipresent. He surprisingly defeated the world number one Alcaraz, who had a 16-match winning streak at the start of the season, in straight sets. Thus, all five active former Indian Wells Masters champions were completely eliminated, with none able to reach the final and defend their past glory.

This week at the Miami Masters, among the six active former champions, except for the six-time champion Serbian superstar Djokovic who is absent due to injury, the other five former champions are all participating. They are: the 2021 champion, Polish powerhouse Hurkacz; the 2022 champion, world number one Alcaraz; the 2023 champion, Russian Tsar Medvedev; the 2024 champion, Italian newcomer Sinner; and the 2025 champion, Czech rookie Mensik.

Unlike last week's Indian Wells Masters where all five active former champions were concentrated in the top half, this week at the Miami Masters, the five active former champions are evenly distributed across the top and bottom halves. Except for the 2/4 section which has no former champion guarding it, the other three sections each have a former champion. So, can the five active former champions of the Miami Masters defend their past glory?

Alcaraz and Hurkacz guard the 1/4 section, hoping to meet in the quarterfinals. On his path forward, Alcaraz will face challenges from Brazilian rookie Fonseca, the heavy artillery of French player Perricard, the tenacious battles from American star descendant Korda, and the tests from Russian thunder god Khachanov, etc.; meanwhile, Hurkacz, whose recent competitive form is hard to describe, faces even greater obstacles in advancing, with a very bleak outlook.

Medvedev guards the 3/4 section and will face challenges from Argentine top player F. Cerundolo, American left-handed cannon Shelton, German tank Zverev Jr., or American Vietnamese-origin tough opponent Le Na Qian. Medvedev, who performed exceptionally well and returned to peak form at last week's Indian Wells Masters, can he continue his excellent performance?

Sinner and Mensik guard the 4/4 section, and their meeting in the quarterfinals is the general trend and widely expected. Last week at the Indian Wells Masters, they were both in the 4/4 section, but unexpectedly Mensik faltered in the third round, failing to meet Sinner in the quarterfinals and missing the chance to replay the good match from February's ATP500 Doha quarterfinals where he defeated Sinner in three sets. This week at the Miami Masters, as the defending champion, Mensik will surely strive with all effort and overcome obstacles—how could he miss the opportunity and fail to face Sinner again?

The 2026 Miami Masters officially kicks off early tomorrow morning. Let's see how the five active former champions defend their past glory.(Source: Tennis Home Author:七彩豆粉)