UPDATE: Emma Raducanu has pulled out of the Miami Open WTA 1000 main draw, citing illness.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka headlines the Miami Open WTA 1000 women’s singles main draw, which was released Sunday ahead of the WTA 1000 event at Hard Rock Stadium.
Sabalenka leads a strong field that includes second seed Iga Swiatek, third seed Elena Rybakina, fourth seed Coco Gauff, and last year’s runner-up, fifth seed Jessica Pegula.
The WTA 1000 event completes the Sunshine Double, and you can read on for our Miami Open women’s singles main draw breakdown and be sure to check out our Miami Open 2026 WTA Betting Notes, backed by 12 years of Miami Open betting data.
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Sabalenka Anchors Loaded Top Quarter
Aryna Sabalenka receives a first-round bye and will open against either Ann Li or a qualifier.
A potential third-round matchup between 23rd seed Qinwen Zheng and 15th seed Madison Keys could be one of the early highlights of the tournament, with the winner likely waiting in the Round of 16.
Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini heads the lower portion of Sabalenka’s quarter alongside 25th seed Jelena Ostapenko and 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova, creating another section filled with aggressive baseline hitters.
All-American opening matchup
Elsewhere in the quarter, Americans Sloane Stephens and Jennifer Brady meet in one of the more notable first-round matches.
Both players are former tour stars attempting to rebuild their careers after long injury layoffs.
Rybakina’s Difficult Quarter
Third seed Elena Rybakina leads another difficult quarter of the Miami Open draw.
Rybakina receives a first-round bye but could face rising Indonesian star Janice Tjen in her opening match. A potential third-round meeting with Marta Kostyuk could also present an early challenge.
A projected Round of 16 matchup could bring either rising American Iva Jovic or four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
Fifth seed Jessica Pegula anchors the opposite side of the quarter with a clear path, which will likely include 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the Round of 16.
If the seeds hold, Rybakina and Pegula would meet in the quarterfinals.
Venus meets Francesca Jones
Another intriguing first-round matchup features seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams against Britain’s Francesca Jones.
The veteran Williams continues to make select tour appearances, and her matchup with Jones could be one of the more entertaining opening-round contests in Miami.
Gauff Faces Tricky Quarter
Fourth seed Coco Gauff anchors another intriguing section of the Miami Open draw.
Gauff receives a first-round bye and should advance through her opening match, but a potential third-round meeting with Australian Maya Joint could present an early challenge.
The Round of 16 could be even tougher. Veteran Elise Mertens and big-hitting Czech Linda Noskova are both in the section and could challenge Gauff for a place in the quarterfinals.
In the top portion of the quarter, Amanda Anisimova looks to jumpstart her season with a manageable early path, but a potential Round of 16 matchup against either Belinda Bencic or Diana Shnaider could prove difficult.
Swiatek Faces Tough Quarterfinal Test
Second seed Iga Swiatek anchors the bottom quarter of the Miami Open draw.
Swiatek’s early path appears manageable, but the difficulty increases as the tournament progresses. Rising Filipina star Alexandra Eala, who defeated Swiatek in Miami last year, could be a potential third-round opponent.
The Round of 16 may also present a challenge, with either Clara Tauson or Karolina Muchova capable of hitting through the conditions in Miami.
If Swiatek advances, the quarterfinal stage could bring an even tougher test against top-10 player Mirra Andreeva or rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko.
A potential Round of 16 meeting between Andreeva and Mboko would also be one of the most intriguing matchups in that section.
Phil Naessens is a tennis betting analyst and former tennis coach with decades of experience in player development and match analysis. He is the founder of Crush Rush News and host of the Crush & Rush Tennis Podcast, focusing on price-first betting strategy, market efficiency, and transparency in sports wagering.
