Sorana Cirstea defeated Elise Mertens 6–3, 6–2 in the first round of the Miami Masters on hard court. The result represented an upset, as Mertens entered as the pre-match favourite with odds of 1.79 to Cirstea's 1.98. Cirstea's dominant performance—dropping only five games across two sets—suggests she found her rhythm early and maintained control throughout. The Romanian's clinical execution on the hard courts of Miami proved too much for Mertens, who failed to mount a sustained challenge. This victory marks a significant statement from Cirstea in the early rounds of the tournament and positions her favourably for the second round.