Alex de Minaur’s Cheeky Message After Miami Open Victory
Alex de Minaur has secured a spot in the fourth round of the Miami Open after a hard-fought comeback win over Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca.
The 10th-seeded Australian battled for two hours and 33 minutes to clinch a 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 victory in his first-ever meeting with the rising 18-year-old talent.
Fonseca, ranked World No. 60, has been on an impressive 27-5 run, capturing four titles along the way. However, it was de Minaur who held his nerve and set up a round of 16 clash with 29th-seeded Matteo Berrettini.
Facing the Crowd and the Pressure
With Brazilian fans turning up in full force to support Fonseca, de Minaur found himself competing not just against his opponent, but also the intense Miami crowd.
“You can go out there, complain, get rattled, but that won’t help you win the match,” de Minaur said in his post-match interview. “I told myself it was going to be a battle—not just against the player but also the crowd. I just put my head down, did the work, and competed for every single point.”
Acknowledging Fonseca’s talent, he added:
“I knew coming in that he’s an incredibly talented, explosive player, playing with a lot of confidence. With the crowd behind him, I knew I’d be up against it. It took every ounce of me to get this win.”
A Message for the Miami Fans
After sealing the victory, de Minaur took part in the customary post-match camera signing but left a playful message: “Rio Open :)”—a cheeky nod to the passionate Brazilian crowd.
Later, he clarified on Instagram: “No bad intentions here, all love.”
Adam Walton’s Lucky Break and Career-Best Run
Meanwhile, fellow Aussie Adam Walton made the most of an unexpected opportunity, securing his first-ever Masters 1000 last-16 spot after beating wildcard Coleman Wong in a tight 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-4 contest.
The 26-year-old Queenslander wasn’t even supposed to be in the main draw, having lost in qualifying. But as the fourth alternate, he got a last-minute call-up when Hubert Hurkacz withdrew, securing an automatic second-round spot due to Hurkacz’s first-round bye.
“I shouldn’t even be here,” Walton admitted. “I got thrashed in qualifying, was about to fly to Mexico for another tournament, and then suddenly, I’m here playing in Miami!”
With only six tour-level wins under his belt, Walton now faces a career-defining showdown against American No. 3 seed Taylor Fritz.
Zverev Ends Jordan Thompson’s Run
Elsewhere, Jordan Thompson couldn’t maintain his early momentum against top seed Alexander Zverev, falling 7-5, 6-4. Despite racing to a 4-1 lead, the German reeled off five straight games to take control.
“Jordan made it difficult for me; he knows how to break rhythm,” Zverev said. “But I’m happy with my level after going down 1-4, losing just one game out of the next nine.”
With de Minaur advancing, Walton making the most of his opportunity, and Thompson bowing out, the Aussie contingent continues to make waves at the Miami Open.
