Elise Mertens defeated Petra Martic 6–4, 6–3 in the second round of the Miami Masters on hard court on 25 March 2023, confirming her status as pre-match favourite with odds of 1.55 to Martic's 2.63. The Belgian controlled proceedings throughout, breaking serve decisively in both sets to secure a comfortable progression. Mertens' superior court positioning and tactical execution proved the difference against an opponent who struggled to establish rhythm. The victory maintains Mertens' momentum in Miami and sets up a third-round encounter against a higher-ranked challenger.