Youth movement leads charge into Miami Open

Amidst the usual legends of the sport still seeking to dominate, the story of last week's BNP Paribas Open has been the youth breakthroughs.

While 36-year-old Roger Federer (finalist) and 37-year-old Venus Williams (semifinalist) looked favored to win it all, players 21 and under enjoyed career weeks. Daria Kasatkina, Naomi Osaka and Borna Coric took out a slew of veterans, while Amanda Anisimova, Caroline Dolehide and Felix Auger-Aliassime made names for themselves.

Osaka made the biggest mark of all, winning her first career title over fellow 20-year-old Kasatkina after wins over the likes of Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Karolina Pliskova and Simona Halep.

Kasatkina, despite the eventual loss, also had a week to remember. The Russian tore through the draw with her creative game, upsetting Sloane Stephens, Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber and Venus Williams.

The big-hitting Osaka has always had the powerful shots to score the biggest wins but had yet to put it all together for a title run. She used her newfound discipline and calmer focus to end up on the podium, and up to No. 22 in the rankings.

Another star of the next generation delivering on his promise this week was 21-year-old Coric. The Croatian enjoyed a career-best week in Indian Wells, battling past Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Roberto Bautista Agut, Taylor Fritz and Kevin Anderson before falling to Federer deep in three tight sets in the semifinals.

The most unexpected run came from 16-year-old American Anisimova, who won her first tour level match in the desert and just kept on going. The 2017 junior US Open champion shocked Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in straight sets before falling to Karolina Pliskova in the fourth round.

Relatively unknown compared to some of her fellow American teens, 19-year-old Dolehide showed off a strong game, complete with a big serve, powerful forehand and net skills. She knocked off No. 30th seed Dominika Cibulkova before falling just short of upsetting top-seeded Halep.

The next generation is bright for Canada as well, as 16-year-old Felix Auger Aliassime notched his first ATP main-draw victory with a win over countryman Vasek Pospisil before another Canadian, Milos Raonic, took him out.

Four of the breakout rising stars are in Miami Open action this week (Anisimova, Kastakina, Osaka and Coric).

**WTA Miami (March 20-April 1)

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