Adrian Mannarino defeated Zhizhen Zhang 6–3, 6–2 in the first round of the Miami Masters on hard court, confirming his status as the marginal pre-match favourite with odds of 1.87 to Zhang's 1.88. The Frenchman's composed performance saw him break serve consistently in both sets, controlling the baseline exchanges and dictating the pace throughout. Zhang, despite competitive odds suggesting a close contest, struggled to find rhythm against Mannarino's solid groundstrokes and tactical awareness. The decisive margin—two breaks per set—underscored the gulf in execution when it mattered most. Mannarino advances to the round of 64 with a straightforward victory that reinforces his credentials on the Miami hard courts.