Every major tournament brings its own heroes from the shadows, and the Miami Open 2026 is no exception. While all eyes are on Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Daniil Medvedev, the tournament so far has shown that the underdogs have plenty to say.
In our “Dark Horse” segment, we highlight five players who have already shown their teeth and possess the game, mental strength, and momentum to go very deep into the tournament.
1. Rafael Jodar: The Spanish Wunderkind (2006)
We have already written about Rafael Jodar, but his incredible run simply must be highlighted. Born in 2006, the young Spaniard is playing the tennis of his life. After coming through the qualifiers without dropping a set, he took down the experienced Yannick Hanfmann (2-1) in the first round. After Lorenzo Musetti withdrew from their match, Jodar completely dismantled Aleksandar Vukic in the third round, winning 6-1, 6-2. Today, he faces the powerful Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, but with the form the Spaniard is showing, the sky is the limit.
2. Marin Cilic: The Veteran Experiencing a Second Youth
Approaching 40 years of age, Marin Cilic is proving that class is permanent. The Croatian veteran is playing fantastic tennis in Miami. First, he routinely dispatched young American Zachary Svajda in straight sets, and then sent the dangerous Australian Alexei Popyrin packing with the same scoreline. What puts him on this list is his impressive victory early this morning—Cilic engineered a massive comeback to defeat the highly favored Brandon Nakashima 2-1. His devastating serve and vast experience in big matches make him the most dangerous “landmine” in the draw.
3. Alexander Shevchenko: The Kazakh Mental Giant
Alexander Shevchenko is a name many favorites do not want to see on the other side of the net. In the first round, he ousted Matteo Arnaldi (2-1) after a fierce battle, but he delivered a real shock in the second round. Trailing against local favorite Ben Shelton, Shevchenko managed a complete turnaround to win 2-1. Such victories indicate incredible psychological stability. When a player survives that kind of pressure against Shelton and the American crowd, he is ready for the biggest stages.
4. Jakub Mensik: The Czech Talent Ready for a Breakthrough
The young Czech, born in 2005, is currently knocking on the door of the very top of the tennis world (13th seed). After an early and unexpected exit at Indian Wells, Mensik arrived in Miami highly motivated. He struggled in the first round against the resilient Australian Watson but managed to win 2-1. That tougher path might have been exactly what he needed to “feel” the court. In his next match, he plays American Frances Tiafoe. Our prediction? Mensik has all the tools to silence the Miami crowd and pull off an upset that will launch him deep into the second week.
5. Raphael Collignon: The Silent Giant Killer
If we are talking about players ruining the plans of the seeded favorites, Raphael Collignon is currently at the top of that list. The Belgian eliminated Grigor Dimitrov in the first round, and last night, he continued his phenomenal streak. He swept aside Flavio Cobolli with a score of 7-5, 6-3. Collignon is playing with immense confidence, brilliantly exploits his opponents’ mistakes, and is definitely a player to watch as the tournament progresses.
Who is your dark horse?
Will Marin Cilic’s experience prevail, or will young forces like Jodar and Mensik steal the show? Follow our [Main Miami Open 2026 Hub] for all live results and match analyses!