In a surprising turn of events at the Miami Open on Saturday, Jack Draper, fresh off his Indian Wells victory, was edged out by Jakub Mensik in straight sets, 7-6(2), 7-6(3). The match, marked by high tension and interruption due to fan unrest, saw Draper struggling to maintain his momentum despite breaking Mensik’s serve in the opening game.
Draper, who recently climbed to a career-high of seventh in the world rankings, seemed poised to carry forward his stellar form. Yet, the young Czech talent, barely 19, delivered a phenomenal 21 aces that catapulted him to the third round, leaving Draper and his fans surprised.
The game took an unexpected pause when Brazilian fans, eager to watch Joao Fonseca’s upcoming match against Ugo Humbert, expressed their agitation. Their match was moved to the main stadium, prompting a wave of frustration among the waiting crowd.
Reflecting on the disturbance, Draper shared his initial confusion with Sky Sports. “At first, I was unsure about what was happening. The noise level was so high, I could hardly focus on the play. It’s understandable that they were upset, but I hope they eventually got to see the match,” he said.
As the Brazilian crowd left Grandstand, their disappointment soon turned to joy when Fonseca triumphed over Humbert with a decisive 6-4, 6-3 victory. Fonseca, still in high spirits post-match, expressed his satisfaction with the venue change. “Having already played my first round there, I felt comfortable with the surroundings. The Brazilian supporters are amazing, and hearing them chant my name every time I win is just incredible,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Reilly Opelka staged an impressive comeback against Danish seed Holger Rune, overcoming a first-set loss to eventually secure a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) victory. With the tournament’s start showcasing unexpected exits from players like Draper, Carlos Alcaraz, and Daniil Medvedev, none of the Indian Wells semifinalists remain in the men’s bracket in Miami.
This report incorporated information from Reuters.
