Casper Ruud defeated Luca Van Assche 7–6, 1–6, 6–1 in the first round of the Miami Masters on hard court on 23 March 2024, confirming his status as pre-match favourite with odds of 1.22. Van Assche, a significant underdog at 4.85, competed in a tight opening set that went to a tie-break before Ruud's superior experience and consistency emerged. The Norwegian dominated the second and third sets, breaking down his opponent's resistance to advance comfortably. The victory underscores Ruud's solidity on hard courts and his readiness for the tournament's deeper stages.