Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
It’s a net gain: Miami Open ready to begin in new home
Isner, Stephens will defend titles in Hard Rock Stadium
MIAMI GARDENS — Tennis in a football stadium?
As odd as it sounds on the surface, the Miami Open, along with Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium owner Steve Ross, have made it work.
Gone is the iconic scenic drive over the Rickenbacker Causeway to get to the Miami Open’s old Key Biscayne location, but the new venue offers a series of improvements in space accommodation and a number of food, drink, art and entertainment options that make it as much a Miami event as it is the top-tier tennis tournament it has been for much of the past 35 years in South Florida.
“The possibilities are endless here, so we’re absolutely thrilled,” said Miami Open tournament director James Blake, who won 10 titles in his playing days. “I think there were a lot of skeptics last year when they couldn’t envision a tennis court in a football stadium and the rest of the courts in a parking lot. I think they were understandably skeptical, and now, when they’ve gotten here, I’ve heard nothing but positive comments about the courts, about the facilities, about the space we have, about the options that we can undertake for the next, hopefully, many years here.”
The first Miami Open at its new abode begins this week with qualifying matches running Monday and Tuesday, the women’s main draw beginning on Tuesday and men’s main draw on Wednesday. The tournament, which involves more than $17 million in prize money, runs two weeks, features 96 men and 96 women in singles competition and 32 doubles teams on each side.
“I am proud of how we put this together and am excited to see the people’s reactions,” Ross said. “We will have the greatest
tennis players in the world and we really will be treating them to a great luxury experience in this tournament.”
While Rafael Nadal, the No. 2-ranked men’s tennis player in the world, will not participate after he had to withdraw from the Indian Wells semifinal with a knee injury, the mandatory event on the ATP and WTA tours offers a star-studded field of tennis’ top stars.
“It’s unfortunate Rafa can’t be here, but it’s still a who’s who of tennis stars, and we’re somewhat in a bit of a golden age with that,” Blake said. “Roger [Federer], Rafa, Novak [Djokovic], three of the greats of all time. Andy Murray — if he wasn’t in that group, he’d be for sure going down as one of the greats of all time — [Juan Martín] del Potro’s an absolute fan favorite and, if not for injuries, would be right there within that group, I think.
“On the women’s side, you have Serena [Williams] — in my opinion, the greatest of all time on the women’s side, debatable if one of the greatest athletes alltime period. And then you got Venus [Williams] and [Caroline] Wozniaka and [Naomi Osaka], the excitement around her right now as No. 1 in the world.”
Defending Miami Open singles champions John Isner and Sloane Stephens, the Plantation native who turns 26 on Wednesday, return.
Among the improvements with the new location, total on-site seating has increased from 25,062 to 30,185. Nine practice courts were added. Parking, which used to hold about 6,000 spaces, can now accommodate more than 10,000 more.
The centerpiece to the new venue is its stadium court, which is inside the actual stadium and seats about the same as the old one used to at 13,800. It offers 4,738 premium seats, 29 permanent suites and 13 cabana suites, and will use all four of Hard Rock’s video boards used during football games.
Outside, the secondary grandstand stadium seats 5,191 with Court 1 and Court 2 fitting 3,024 and 1,564, respectively. Between stadium court and the grandstand is where the non-tennis entertainment takes place from the site’s east terrace to its west lawn and “The Grove.”
Fans can lounge while enjoying food and beverage, including the Miami Open’s signature cocktail, the MO Smash, from dozens of restaurants and bars. They can take in live entertainment at Kiki on the River or check out Art Open Miami, which produced by Art Miami, will feature modern and contemporary paintings, prints, sculptures and photography art for sale.
“That’s what we’re hoping for — making this more than just a tennis tournament, making this really the best tennis and entertainment event,” Blake said.
Not a second of the tennis has to be missed to enjoy the outdoor amenities as video screens keep an eye on the action — one of them being the largest video board in tennis at 90 feet wide by 40 feet tall, which oversees the outdoor lounges.
Amenities for players include increased dining, gym, locker room and lounge space. While it’ll be a more comfortable setting, players nonetheless will have to grow accustomed to the change in scenery.
“That center court, it’s always going to be a special to me because it was the biggest match I ever won there,” said Isner at the Delray Beach Open last month. “I think it’s just the history of that place. Driving up there is always fun. It’s always beautiful. Everything about it is very unique and a very intimate setting.”
Blake said the drive over the Rickenbacker Causeway to Crandon Park will be what he too misses most about the Open’s run at Key Biscayne.
“When you have something like that, you have the nostalgia,” he said. “Once you make some memories here, I think it’s going to be just as special when you come up here.”