IT’S A RACKET

THE MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAÚ IS AN ANNUAL SPORTS SPECTACLE THAT REIGNS SUPREME FOR TENNIS-LOVING SOUTH FLORIDIANS. HERE’S A LOOK AT WHAT PUTS THE MAGIC IN THIS SIGNATURE MIAMI EVENT, TAKING PLACE MARCH 29 TO APRIL 2.

BY JESSE SCOTT

Five Alive

The tournament has taken many names and forms since its inception in 1985, but the throughline has been world-class tennis on a level seldom seen. In fact, in addition to the four annual Grand Slam events—the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open—the Miami Open is widely considered an honorary “fifth slam” for the quality of its player field.

Stadium Spot

The event returns to Hard Rock Stadium this year, marking its fourth appearance in Miami Gardens since 2019, when the Open moved from its long-time home of Crandon Park in Key Biscayne.

Ready to Launch

Make The Most Of Your Miami Open Experience

While the championship moments may stick out in the history books, it’s the multifaceted grounds at Hard Rock Stadium that make for oh-so-many memories each year. Including the stadium court epicenter, there are 27 courts total, with 10 used for tournament play and 17 reserved for practice.

To catch as much tennis as possible, venture around to the perimeter courts, where you’ll often find top players warming up (and periodically signing autographs). A schedule of tournament matches and practice sessions is available on-site daily. Pro tip: Early tournament days feature more players in the field, so try to grab tickets for the first few sessions.

Star Showers

In recent years, the Open has been a who’s who of both men’s and women’s tennis stars. Champions have included six-time Miami Open winner Novak Djokovic, Swiss legend Roger Federer, eight-time champ Serena Williams, and Plantation’s hometown hero, Sloane Stephens.

The 2022 event proved to be a jumping-off point for two of tennis’ newest phenoms. On the men’s side, rising Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz took home the win at just 18 years old. Later in 2022, he won the U.S. Open and, by the end of the year, became the first teenager to achieve a No. 1 ranking in the world. On the women’s side in 2022, Poland’s Iga Swiatek defeated Naomi Osaka. Including her Miami Open win, Swiatek has won 37 straight matches— the longest streak in women’s tennis this century.

Be sure to pack your sun protection as the heat radiates through the metal bleachers used on many of the court setups. When you need a reprieve from the action, make an off-court visit to a Miami culinary favorite (Bodega Taqueria and Tequila, SuViche, and Kiki on the River have been on-site in recent years), a tennis apparel boutique for some retail therapy, and even a gondola ride for a bird’s-eye view of the entire event.

For the latest confirmed player lineups and on-site activations, visit miamiopen.com