Miami Open 2025: Walton downs Wong to reach fourth round

Adam Walton continued his dream run at the 2025 Miami Open on Monday, with the Australian tennis player edging out Coleman Wong for a place in the round of 16.

The world No.89 lost in the final round of qualifying but gained entry to the ATP Masters 1000 tournament as a lucky loser after No.21 seed Hubert Hurkacz withdrew ahead of his first match.

The lucky break sent Walton straight into the second round, where he beat Luciano Darderi in straight sets to improve his career record on the ATP Tour to 5-17.

Tennis bookmakers priced him as a -192.31 favourite to win his third-round clash with Wong, who had upset 13th seed Ben Shelton earlier.

Walton played some of his best tennis to get past the world No.182, striking 32 winners and converting three of four break points to win 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-4.

“Obviously very happy right now,” Walton said after the two-hour, 19-minute match.

“I shouldn’t even be here.

“Just very good fortune this week. I got thrashed in qualifying, then got the call up three days later to play again.

“It almost feels like a fresh start, a new tournament.

“Just so happy to be through to the last 16.”

Earlier, Walton had explained just how close he’d been to leaving Miami after falling in the second round of qualifying.

“I had it all planned,” he said.

“I had all my stuff packed in the car, ready to go. If I lost, I was out of here.

“Wins have been hard for me on the tour.

“I think this was win number five out of 20-something, so I haven’t won that much on tour.

“I’ve done well at the Challenger level.

“Playing these big tournaments is obviously very rewarding, especially if you can win matches, because they offer the biggest prize money, and just everything around the big tournaments.”

Walton takes on third seed Taylor Fritz in the fourth round on Tuesday, where top sports betting sites have him as a heavy underdog.

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