Top ATP player withdraws with illness hours before his fourth round match in Miami

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The 2025 Miami Open is approaching the latter rounds as players grow hungry for success at the year’s second Masters 1000 tournament.

British number one Jack Draper won Indian Wells earlier this month but suffered an early exit in Florida at the hands of Jakub Mensik.

Draper lost to Mensik in two tiebreakers, 6-7 [2-7], 6-7 [3-7], as the Czech star secured his sixth career top-ten win.

19-year-old Mensik then beat Russia’s Roman Safiullin in straight sets to advance to the fourth round in Miami.

As he prepared for a tough test against a top 30 ATP opponent, Mensik received news that he had advanced to the quarter-finals without ever stepping onto the court.

Tomas Machac withdrew from the Miami Open due to illness sending Jakub Mensik into the quarter-finals

Fans will have to wait for a second all-Czech clash between Jakub Mensik and Tomas Machac after the latter withdrew ahead of their fourth-round match in Miami.

The world number 21’s illness was too much to overcome, as he withdrew from the tournament, handing his countryman a place in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open.

Machac has now withdrawn or retired from four of his last eight tournaments, as health issues persist for the 24-year-old.

• 2025 Miami Open – Withdrew ahead of 4R
• 2025 Indian Wells – Retired at 6-4, 2-4 in 2R
• 2025 Mexican Open – Won
• 2025 Dallas Open – Lost in QF
• 2025 Australian Open – Lost in 3R
• 2024 Paris Masters – Retired at 7-6, 3-5 in 1R
• 2024 Vienna Open – Lost in QF
• 2024 Almaty Open – Retired at 1-3 in 2R

During that run, Machac picked up his first ATP title, securing victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Mexican Open.

Machac had lost his one previous tour-level final in Geneva to Casper Ruud but wasn’t to be denied in Acapulco as he beat his Spanish opponent in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2.

Should he recover from his illness in time, Machac will return to action at the Monte-Carlo Masters, which begins on April 7.

Jakub Mensik sends message to Tomas Machac after Miami Open withdrawal

Shortly after receiving the news, Mensik took to X to send a message to his fellow Czech star.

“Get well soon, Tomas [Machac],” he said.

“Was looking forward to a red-white-blue derby in Miami, but we’ll make it happen later many more times.”

Is Miami Open quarter-finalist Jakub Mensik better than teenage sensation Joao Fonseca?

Mensik is the highest ranked teenager on the ATP Tour, but he is perhaps less well known than one of his fellow youngsters.

18-year-old Joao Fonseca burst onto the scene earlier this year and has quickly risen to number 60 in the world rankings.

Fonseca beat Ugo Humbert to reach the third round of the Miami Open, where he fell to defeat against Australia’s Alex de Minaur.

The atmosphere was electric, as it had been in his previous two matches, with the Brazilian losing in three sets, 7-5, 5-7, 3-6.

Some have argued that Mensik deserves the same ‘hype’ Fonseca receives, often comparing the pair’s ATP Tour achievements.

Jakub Mensik’s career achievements

• Career high ranking – 45
• Live ranking – 48
• ATP titles – 0
• ATP finals – 1
• Top ten wins – 6
• Best Grand Slam result – 3R 2023 US Open, 2024 US Open, 2025 Australian Open
• Best Masters 1000 result – QF 2024 Shanghai Masters, 2025 Miami Open*

Joao Fonseca’s career achievements

• Career high ranking – 60
• Live ranking – 58
• ATP titles – 1
• ATP finals – 1
• Top ten wins – 1
• Best Grand Slam result – 2R 2025 Australian Open
• Best Masters 1000 result – 3R 2025 Miami Open

Fonseca’s title in Argentina earlier this year sees him hold a slight edge over Mensik, as the Czech stars’ wait for silverware continues.

The Brazilian also holds a 1-0 lead in the head-to-head with Mensik, taking him down at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals, 3-4, 4-3, 4-3, 3-4, 4-3.

The teenage duo are set for a legendary rivalry on the ATP Tour and could well be knocking on the door of the top ten before too long.

Mensik will look to break new ground by reaching his first-ever Masters 1000 semi-final when he takes on either Alexander Zverev or Arthur Fils on Wednesday, March 26.