The Miami Open takes it’s talents back to Hard Rock Stadium in colossal fashion.
There were logistical questions regarding the Miami Open upon leaving Key Biscayne, which called home for 30 plus years.
Attendance records erased any doubt and leaving Key Biscayne as historical memory.
For last year’s men’s final where Roger Federer defeated John Isner 17,373 fans were in attendance, setting a men’s final attendance record crushing the old record of 14,625 in 2011. The overall turnout was 388,734, setting a tournament record surpassing the old record that was 326,131 in 2012.
Also, the tournament set 15 session attendance records over the last two weeks. Session nine attendance of 32,831 set an all-time session attendance record before 2019. The old session record was 18,910 in 2007.
The 2020 Miami Open presented by Itaú returns for its second year at “The Rock,” March 23-April 5, and fans will have the opportunity to see tennis’ biggest stars while enjoying all the new fan experiences at the event’s world-class venue.
Federer, the 2019 Miami Open champion, has withdrawn from the tournament to recover from arthroscopic surgery for a right knee injury to give time for his knee to heal, announcing that he would return in the grass season potentially at Wimbledon.
But the tournament will not disappoint.
Reigning Australian Open champions Novak Djokovic and Sofia Kenin top one of the strongest ATP and WTA tournament draws of 2020.
Novak Djokovic leads a men’s field that includes 19-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and boasts the next generation of ATP stars, including World No. 4 Daniil Medvedev, 2019 ATP Finals Champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, World No. 7 Alexander Zverev and Australian star Nick Kyrgios.
The woman’s field is worth the hype.
Sofia Kenin, who hails from Pembroke Pines, Florida, is fresh off her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne and joins an impressive list of Grand Slam singles champions competing in Miami.
Leading the way is 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, who is looking to win her ninth title in Miami, and defending Miami Open champion Ashleigh Barty, the reigning French Open champion.
The future stars of women’s tennis will also be on display with 18-year-old Amanda Anisimova, from Aventura, and 15-year-old Coco Gauff, from Delray Beach, in the field. Both claimed their first WTA singles title in 2019.
Besides the four major championships, the Miami Open is one of a small number of events on the ATP and WTA tours where the main singles draw (for both the men and the women) involves more than 64 players, and where main-draw play extends beyond one week. 96 men and 96 women compete in the singles competition, and 32 teams compete in each of the doubles competitions with the event lasting a joyous 12 days.
As an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, the tournament is worth up to 1000 ATP Rankings points to the singles and doubles champions. On both the ATP and the WTA, this is the third-highest level tennis event.
Following a spectacular Hard Rock Stadium debut last March, fans can expect an even greater guest experience that includes the best in art, food, fashion and music. Some new and exciting changes in 2020 include the Sky View at Hard Rock Stadium, a gondola ride that will give fans the opportunity to see the venue from a unique perspective. The site will also have increased shade structures and a new Grandstand video board.
Even more colossal.
Photo/MiamiOpen
