In her debut at a 1000-point tournament, Latvian tennis player Semeņistaja was eliminated in the first round, losing to Kočiareto, who is ranked 44th in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Despite a tough match where she lost 4-6, 1-6, her performance is noted as she qualified for the main draw through a special circumstance after originally losing in the qualifiers but benefitting from last-minute withdrawals by other players.

Semeņistaja, currently ranked 103rd, had a brief run in the qualifying rounds where she initially defeated Monika Ekstranda, an 18-year-old ranked 366th, but then fell short against Austria's Sinja Kraus, who is 120th in the world. Her advancement into the main draw highlights her potential amid the competition, despite the outcome of her first-round match against the experienced Kočiareto, who now moves on to face Koko Gauf, a favorite in the tournament.

The Miami tournament is one of ten significant events in the tennis season with a total prize pool of $9.4 million, attracting top talents from around the globe. Latvia's other star player, Aļona Ostapenko, will also participate in the main draw, entering the second round with a match against either Dajana Jastremska or Ešlina Krieger, showcasing the growing presence of Latvian players in high-stakes tournaments.