The No. 1 men’s tennis player got his wish, receiving thunderous applause Monday night when he took the court and electric cheers during an exhibition event at LoanDepot Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins.
It was a one-off event – the first time tennis had ever been played at LoanDepot Park – and also featured rising Brazilian standout João Fonseca and women’s stars Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula.
Alcaraz defeated 24th-ranked Fonseca 7-5, 2-6, 10-8 in a thrilling singles match, the first time they had faced each other. Anisimova defeated Pegula 6-2, 7-5 earlier in the evening. Alcaraz and Pegula also defeated Anisimova and Fonseca in a 10-point mixed doubles tiebreak.
“I just expect people to enjoy watching us play,” Alcaraz said before the game. “I think it’s unusual to see us playing in these types of stadiums and on these types of courts. I’m very excited to play here with João. I’m just excited to see how people will react.”
The 22-year-old Alcaraz recently wrapped up the 2025 season, finishing the campaign with the year-end No. 1 ranking on the ATP, tour highs of 71 match wins and eight trophies and a pair of Grand Slam titles that pushed his career total to six.
He has continued to be busy during the exhibition season, which also included an exhibition event in Newark, New Jersey, on Sunday in which Alcaraz played a singles match against two-time US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe.
“I’m having a lot of fun,” Alcaraz said. “Getting the energy out of the people, playing some places we’re not used to. It’s exciting. It’s been great so far and I’m really enjoying it.”
The crowd on Monday also included Inter Miami stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who a few days ago became MLS champions in the final match of their decorated careers.
Anisimova, a finalist at this year’s US Open and Wimbledon, and Pegula, who reached the US Open semi-finals, both noted that Monday’s exhibition was a great way to prepare for the upcoming season in a new environment.
“I think we like to play tennis and we like to compete,” Pegula said. “It’s always really fun and refreshing for us to be able to change what that looks like when we don’t do that 95% of the year. I think it’s great for the sport. It gives it a different look for the fans, for everyone involved. For players, it keeps us somewhat fresh and brings you back to why you play.”
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