By SABC Sport
28th March 2023
The Greek - recovering from a shoulder problem and after suffering a shock early exit at Indian Wells -was given a first-round bye before Richard Gasquet was forced to withdraw through injury.
Tsitsipas, though, showed plenty of resilience as he dug deep to end the run of Garin with a 6-3 4-6 6-4 win in just over two hours.
"I was waiting for a very long time to get out and play," Tsitsipas said. "It has almost felt like a vacation this past week, staying in Miami.
"It was a difficult match. I am happy with the way things turned around and my confidence towards the end."
Tsitsipas added on the ATP Tour website: "It has been a difficult road to healing in the past few weeks, but I am happy that things are getting better."
Next up for Tsitsipas will be a repeat of his Australian Open semi-final against Karen Khachanov after the 14th seed defeated 21-year-old Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-2 6-4.
Fifth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime crashed out as he was beaten in straight sets, 6-2 7-5, by Francisco Cerundolo.
The Argentine world number 31, who reached the semi-finals in Miami last year, said in his courtside interview broadcast on Prime Video: "Getting another top-10 win here, I am super happy.
"I am playing as well as I did last year, so am happy to keep going."
Elsewhere, Quentin Halys ended the hopes of American Mackenzie McDonald as he progressed with a 7-6 6-3 win.
The Frenchman goes on to play Daniil Medvedev for a place in the last eight after the Russian saw his scheduled opponent Alex Molcan pull out because of a hip injury.
American Christopher Eubanks continued his stunning run with the world number 119 progressing to the fourth round by beating Frenchman Gregoire Barrere 6-3 7-6.
Eubanks served 12 aces in the match and won 89% of points on his second serve as he moves on to face another Frenchman, Adrian Mannarino.
Mannarino beat eighth seed and 2021 Miami Open champion Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 7-6.
Despite Hurkacz hitting 20 aces throughout the two-hour match, the 26-year-old did not win a point in the second-set tiebreak.
American Frances Tiafoe could not make the most of his hometown advantage against Italian Lorenzo Sonego, going down 6-3 6-4 in just over 70 minutes.
Sonego continued his good form after beating former US Open winner Dominic Thiem and British number two Dan Evans.
The 59th-ranked Sonego will play Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina in the fourth round.