By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Novak Djokovic will make his long-awaited Miami Open return poised for a record-setting run.
Grand Slam king Djokovic joins fellow world No. 1 Iga Swiatek heading the entry listing for subsequent month’s Miami Open.
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Seventeen years after Djokovic defeated Guillermo Canas 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to seize his maiden Miami Open crown when the match was performed at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, he’ll return to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Six-time champion Djokovic shares the all-time males’s mark for many titles with Andre Agassi. Djokovic will probably be taking part in a record-setting seventh Miami Open crown.
The Miami Open is about for March 17-Thirty first. See the full entry listing right here.
Five-time finalist Rafael Nadal, who goals to make his comeback in Indian Wells subsequent month, doesn’t seem on the Miami Open entry listing. However, former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, who has been hit with a slew of accidents, is on the entry listing.
It will probably be Djokovic’s first Miami look since 2019.
Despite the efforts of the match, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, the unvaccinated Djokovic didn’t obtain an exemption to enter the United States for the 2023 Miami Open. That choice got here after the Florida Governor steered Djokovic may work across the nation’s COVID-19 coverage for worldwide vacationers and acquire entry to Florida by water.
Restrictions had been lifted on May 11, 2023, which gave Djokovic eligibility to enter the United States since final summer time.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, who consolidated her place as world No. 1 with a straight-sets win over final 12 months’s Miami Open runner-up Elena Rybakina within the Qatar Open closing final weekend, is looking for a second Miami Open title. Swiatek stopped fellow four-time main winner Naomi Osaka within the 2022 closing.
Defending champion Petra Kvitova just isn’t taking part in this 12 months, having introduced her being pregnant at the beginning of the 12 months. Kvitova could have loads of inspiration for making a speedy return to the court docket with new mother Osaka taking part in in Miami this 12 months. Having returned to competitors solely six months after having her daughter Shai, she loved her first back-to-back wins since her return in Qatar final week, beating world No.20 Caroline Garcia within the first spherical.
On the women aspect, former No. 1 Angelique Kerber, former Indian Wells champion Paula Badosa, Amanda Anisimova and Anastasija Sevastova are all on the entry listing.
Defending males’s champion Danill Medvedev and finalist Jannik Sinner are again, with Sinner agengins his Miami loss to Medvedev with a five-set marathon comeback within the 2024 Australian Open closing final month. Sinner grew to become the primary Italian man to win a Grand Slam title since Adriano Panatta again in 1976 and is undefeated since on a 12-match win streak.
World No. 2s gamers Aryna Sabalenka and 2022 Miami Open Champion Carlos Alcaraz, are each returning to the Miami Open with reclaiming their No.1 rankings on the high of the agenda. Sabalenka began the season efficiently defending her Australian Open championship with out surrendering a set. Alcaraz, who at age 20 already has a Wimbledon and US Open title, 4 ATP Masters 1000 and a half dozen different titles to his identify, will probably be seeking to get again into the winner’s circle for the primary time in 2024.
Home hope abounds for the primary American males’s champion since John Isner in 2018 and first ladies’s title holder since Sloane Stephens additionally lifted the title trophy in 2018.
Florida residents Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys, sitting at No.3, No.5 and No.16 on the WTA rankings with Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton at No.10, 14, 15 and 16 on the ATP rankings. Fritz efficiently defended Delray Beach on Monday, defeating buddy Paul in an all-American closing.
Gauff, the worldwide famous person from Delray Beach, Fla. Who turns 20 on March 13, gained the Miami Open doubles title with Pegula final 12 months, earlier than happening to win the US Open singles title. She sits at a profession excessive rating singles rating of No. 3. Gauff additionally scored her first skilled match win on the Miami Open.
Known for its world-class fan expertise, the Miami Open offered by Itaú will once more welcome tennis followers to Hard Rock Stadium, full with the one tennis stadium court docket in an NFL venue, and its sprawling campus in Miami Gardens.
The 12 months’s version of the Miami Open offered by Itaú may also function extra on-court motion for followers than ever earlier than. Taking place within the second week, the Miami Open Wheelchair Invitational and Major League Pickleball Showcase are additionally new additions to this system, marking the primary time each occasions will happen at any 1000 collection match.
Photo credit score: Lindsey Godwin/Miami Open offered by Itaú
Source: www.tennisnow.com
