Top five youngsters to watch out for Miami Open 2024

Published at :March 21, 2024 at 6:30 AM

Modified at :April 1, 2024 at 9:21 PM

(Courtesy : thescore.com/GMA Network)

The Miami Open 2024 will feature some young guns who have previously shocked top-notch tennis stars.

The Miami Open 2024 will feature some high-profile players at the tournament as we now move our attention to the second half of the Sunshine Double.

Following the announcement of the 2024 Miami Open main draw, fans may already anticipate a number of fascinating matchups and plotlines.

The fields appear to be very competitive on both the men’s and women’s sides, despite late withdrawals from players like Martketa Vondrousova, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Starting from March 19, World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner will be in charge of the 1000-level event.

However, the entry list also contains some rising youngsters who are ready to show off their skills at the hard court. Take a look at the five youngsters who are expected to grab everyone’s attention at the tournament.

Youngsters to watch out for at Miami Open 2024

Jiri Lehecka (22)

After winning his first ATP Tour title in January at the Adelaide International, Jiri Lehecka has enjoyed early success in his 2024 campaign. The Czech player broke into the top-25 and, on January 15, reached a career-high ranking of No. 23. He then advanced to the Dubai quarterfinals too!

Lehecka recently showed his masterclass at the Indian Wells Masters by overcoming Brandon Nakashima in the second round by fighting back from a set down. Then, in order to advance to the fourth round, he defeated fifth seed Andrey Rublev and 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Arthur Fils (19)

The BNP Paribas Open saw Frenchman Arthur Fils, a #NextGenATP, reach the third round, matching his greatest performance at an ATP Masters 1000 event. Before Casper Ruud stopped him at the Indian Wells, the 19-year-old defeated Nuno Borges and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. He had already made it to the same stage in Shanghai the previous year.

The 19-year-old kicked off his 2024 tennis season reaching the quarter-final at the Hong Kong Open. He then made it to the semi-finals of the ASB Classic and the quarterfinals of the Rio Open.

Emma Navarro (22)

In the Indian Wells quarterfinals, American Emma Navarro shocked everyone by defeating reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in Round of 16. For the first time in her career, she advanced to the Indian Wells quarterfinals, overcoming players like Lesia Tsurenko and Elina Svitolina, before achieving the biggest win of her career against the Belarussian.

In January 2024, she earned her maiden championship at the Hobart International, defeating the seasoned Elise Mertens in the championship match to win the WTA 250 event.

Leylah Fernandez (21)

When her timing is spot on, she is one of the best counter punchers on the circuit. She plays a high-risk, high-reward style of tennis. She is yet to win a WTA 1000 or even a WTA 500, despite her well-known performance in the US Open finals in 2021. However, on her way to win Hong Kong Tennis Open last year in October, the 21-year-old defeated some strong players like Victoria Azarenka, Mirra Andreeva, Linda Fruhvirtova, Anna Blinkova, and Katerina Siniakova.

Fernandez’s approach to matches is best characterised as intensely focused and competitive. At the US Open in 2021, Roland Garros in 2022, and Guadalajara in 2023, Fernandez progressed to her fourth quarter-final at the WTA 1000 level or above, when she beat Qinwen Zheng recently at Qatar Open. The victory was also her sixth career top-10 win, and her second in the past four months.

Linda Noskova (19)

At the Australian Open this year, Noskova showed fearlessness in her game by overcoming heavy favourite Iga Swiatek by skillfully returning the Pole’s serve and using her forehand. The 19-year-old put on an incredible display, defeating the four-time winner in three sets. It was also her first-ever Australian Open outing and her first-ever appearance at the legendary Rod Laver Arena.

Moreover, this unexpected outcome ended world No. 1 Swiatek’s incredible 18-match winning streak. The 19-year-old made it to the quarter-finals in her first outing itself. She has the mindset to defeat everyone, not letting the opposition or the situation intimidate her.

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