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Miami Open Commits Centre Court Slots to Alex Eala and Joao Fonseca

Eala arrives as the No. 31 seed with a bye, defending 390 points from last year’s semifinal.

Overview

  • Director James Blake said on Tennis Channel that both rising stars will be scheduled on the main stadium to meet surging Filipino and Brazilian fan demand.
  • Organizers cited lessons from past events where smaller-court assignments led to overflow crowds and fans watching from outside arenas.
  • The published draw places Eala on a potential third-round path to face Iga Swiatek, whom she upset in Miami last year.
  • Eala’s points defense creates real ranking risk if she exits early, with reports noting she could slip outside the top 50 without a deep run.
  • Fonseca is unseeded, begins in the first round, and defends 50 points from 2025, entering with momentum after a strong Indian Wells performance.