Damir Dzumhur survived two tiebreaks and rallied to defeat Ignacio Buse 6-7(6), 7-6(6), 6-1 in the Round of 128 at the Miami Open on Thursday. The Bosnian secured his fourth career title at this event after dropping the opening set and winning 112 total points to Buse’s 96, snapping a recent stretch of poor form with a commanding third-set performance.
The first two sets were tightly contested marathons — Buse edged the opener 8-6 in the tiebreak, then Dzumhur leveled by winning the second-set breaker 8-6. Neither player faced a break point across those two sets, making serve holds paramount. Momentum shifted decisively in the decider: Dzumhur capitalized on Buse’s mounting unforced error count, which ballooned to 51 for the match, to race through the final set 6-1 in just over 30 minutes.
Dzumhur’s victory, his first in six matches, came despite hitting fewer aces (3 to Buse’s 7) and fewer winners (30 to 33). The difference was error management: Dzumhur committed 32 unforced errors to Buse’s 51, and dominated the second serve exchanges with a 58% winning percentage compared to Buse’s 50%. The Bosnian advances to the Round of 64.
Key Takeaways
- Dzumhur won 16 more total points (112-96) despite losing the opening set and hitting fewer aces and winners, highlighting the impact of Buse’s 51 unforced errors.
- Neither player faced a single break point in the first two sets — an extraordinary stat reflecting the quality of serve holds and the razor-thin margins that sent both sets to tiebreaks.
- Dzumhur’s second serve proved the decisive weapon: he won 58% of those points compared to Buse’s 50%, a gap that widened dramatically in the third set as Buse’s game unraveled.
- The 19-error differential (32 for Dzumhur, 51 for Buse) was the match’s defining statistic — Buse’s 30 winners were negated by his inability to sustain consistency after the second-set tiebreak.
Player Analysis
Damir Dzumhur
Dzumhur entered Miami on shaky ground — just 1-4 in his previous five matches — but showed the grit and experience that once earned him an upset over Rafael Nadal at this very event. His serve stats were solid if unspectacular: 65% first serves in, 77% of those points won, and his 3 aces matched his hard court average. What set him apart was his ability to weather the storm in the tiebreaks and his superior second serve, which won 58% of points — eight percentage points better than Buse’s.
The third set revealed Dzumhur at his clinical best. With Buse’s errors mounting, Dzumhur stayed composed and pushed the Peruvian into longer rallies, where unforced mistakes compounded. His 32 unforced errors, while not pristine, were well within his recent hard court average of 33.7. This victory, his first at Miami since 2021, signals a potential turning point after weeks of frustration on tour.
Ignacio Buse
Buse arrived in Miami riding high — a four-match winning streak including a semifinal run in Rio — and his aggressive game plan nearly paid off. He outhit Dzumhur in aces (7 to 3) and winners (33 to 30), and his first serve percentage (66%) was slightly better. The Peruvian looked poised to capitalize on Dzumhur’s recent struggles, and for two sets, he matched the veteran blow for blow.
But the wheels came off spectacularly in the decider. Buse’s 51 unforced errors — a staggering total over three sets — told the story of a player who couldn’t sustain his level under pressure. His second serve won just 50% of points, and after splitting tiebreaks, he had no answer for Dzumhur’s steadier baseline game in the final set. The loss snaps his momentum at an unfortunate time, and the error count suggests he pushed too hard for winners when patience might have served him better.
Match Statistics
| Damir Dzumhur | Stat | Ignacio Buse |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Aces | 7 |
| 2 | Double Faults | 4 |
| 65% | 1st Serve % | 66% |
| 77% | 1st Serve Points Won | 70% |
| 58% | 2nd Serve Points Won | 50% |
| 30 | Winners | 33 |
| 32 | Unforced Errors | 51 |
| 112 | Total Points Won | 96 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Damir Dzumhur vs Ignacio Buse at the Miami Open 2026?
Damir Dzumhur defeated Ignacio Buse 6-7(6), 7-6(6), 6-1 in the Round of 128 at the Miami Open on March 19, 2026.
How many unforced errors did Ignacio Buse commit against Dzumhur in Miami?
Ignacio Buse committed 51 unforced errors compared to Dzumhur’s 32, a 19-error differential that proved decisive in the three-set match.
Were there any break points in the first two sets between Dzumhur and Buse?
No. Remarkably, neither Damir Dzumhur nor Ignacio Buse faced a single break point in the first two sets, with both sets decided by tiebreaks.
Who won the Miami Open Round of 128 match on March 19, 2026?
Damir Dzumhur won the match, rallying from a first-set tiebreak loss to defeat Ignacio Buse in three sets and advance to the Round of 64.
What’s Next
Dzumhur advances to the Round of 64 at the Miami Open, where he’ll look to build on this momentum-shifting victory. His opponent in the next round has not yet been determined.
