Miami Quarter-Finals Preview: Will #NextGenATP Rising Star Landaluce Continue His Stellar Journey Against Lehecka?
Get ready as ATPTour.com dives into an exciting preview of the first two quarter-finals of the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event.
Date: March 25, 2026
Produced by ATP Tour
Watch Martin Landaluce and Jiri Lehecka face off in their inaugural match on Wednesday in Miami.
By ATP Staff
Wednesday night offers a thrilling showdown as Tommy Paul goes head-to-head with Arthur Fils in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open presented by Itau, where each player aims to achieve significant milestones.
This marks Paul’s debut at this advanced stage of the South Florida ATP Masters 1000 event, while Fils makes his return to the quarter-finals for the second consecutive year, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by a French player since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2010.
Both athletes have demonstrated their perseverance this week after overcoming late-season injuries last year. Their match is tentatively scheduled for not before 8:30 p.m. EDT.
Earlier in the day, emerging #NextGenATP talent Martin Landaluce will take on 21st seed Jiri Lehecka in the first of two men’s quarter-finals on Wednesday. At No. 151 in the PIF ATP Rankings, the 20-year-old Spaniard is making waves as the lowest-ranked Miami quarter-finalist since 1994.
[Q] Landaluce vs. [21] Lehecka (not before 3:00 p.m. EDT)
Landaluce pulled off a spectacular save, overcoming a match point against Sebastian Korda to advance to his first Masters 1000 quarter-final. Before Miami, he had only secured two tour-level wins, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index; he has now doubled that tally with remarkable victories over Top 20 players Luciano Darderi and Karen Khachanov.
The challenge intensifies with Lehecka, who recently shocked World No. 7 Taylor Fritz to reach his third Masters 1000 quarter-final. The Czech player stands to potentially rise to his career-high No. 16 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings if he proceeds further.
Landaluce, developed at the Rafa Nadal Academy, clinched the US Open boys’ title at just 16 years old in 2022 and made his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals last year. Arriving in Miami without a tour-level victory in 2026, he has proven his resilience with six consecutive wins, including qualifying matches, marking a remarkable week for him.
Now climbing 48 spots to No. 103 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Landaluce could reach as high as No. 69 with a semi-final win. Both players are expected to unleash their aggressive styles, setting the stage for an electrifying encounter at Hard Rock Stadium.
[22] Paul vs. [28] Fils (not before 8:30 p.m. EDT)
Their only previous encounter in the Lexus ATP Head2Head resulted in a dramatic three-set victory for Paul in Shanghai in 2023, hinting at an exhilarating match between one of the tour’s hardest hitters and a player who excels under pressure.
After an early end to his 2025 season due to injury following the US Open, Paul has bounced back impressively, making it to the Delray Beach final this year and overcoming two three-set matches to reach his first Miami quarter-final. The former World No. 8 will need to leverage his speed and defensive prowess against Fils’ explosive gameplay.
Fils also faced significant challenges, spending eight months sidelined by a back injury before surging to the ATP 500 final in Doha this February during just his third event back. The 21-year-old has continued his strong performance through the Sunshine Double, clinching victories over sharp opponents like Felix Auger-Aliassime in Indian Wells and gaining a decisive win against Stefanos Tsitsipas in Miami, where he lost only a single game.
As he seeks his first Masters 1000 semi-final (with a current record of 0-4 in quarter-finals), Fils aims to elevate his game against the 28-year-old Paul, who has reached four semi-finals at this prestigious level.
Discover More Insights from Miami:
Landaluce saves match point to surprise Korda, honoring his late grandmother
Lehecka thwarts home favorite Fritz with a brilliant third-set performance in Miami
No cookies and a traveling physio: The changes that propelled Fils from setbacks to success
When are the Miami Tennis Quarter-Finals?
The first two quarter-finals of the Miami Open presented by Itau will be held on Wednesday, March 25. Martin Landaluce will face Jiri Lehecka not before 3:00 p.m. EDT, followed by Tommy Paul against Arthur Fils at not before 8:30 p.m. EDT.
Who are the Players in the Miami Tennis Quarter-Finals?
The top half of the draw features Tommy Paul, Arthur Fils, Martin Landaluce, and Jiri Lehecka. The bottom half, scheduled for Thursday, March 26, includes stars Jannik Sinner, Frances Tiafoe, Alexander Zverev, and Francisco Cerundolo.
How Can You Watch the Miami Tennis Quarter-Finals?
Catch the action live on TennisTV
Check the TV Schedule
