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 list for next month's Miami Open.
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Seventeen years after Djokovic defeated Guillermo Canas 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to capture his maiden Miami Open crown when the tournament was played at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, he will return to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Six-time champion Djokovic shares the all-time men's mark for most titles with Andre Agassi. Djokovic will be playing a record-setting seventh Miami Open crown.
The Miami Open is set for March 17-31st. See the complete entry list here.
Five-time finalist Rafael Nadal, who aims to make his comeback in Indian Wells next month, does not appear on the Miami Open entry list. However, former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, who has been hit with a slew of injuries, is on the entry list.
It will be Djokovic's first Miami appearance since 2019.
Despite the efforts of the tournament, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, the unvaccinated Djokovic did not receive an exemption to enter the United States for the 2023 Miami Open. That decision came after the Florida Governor suggested Djokovic could work around the nation's COVID-19 policy for international travelers and gain entry to Florida by water.
Restrictions were lifted on May 11, 2023, which gave Djokovic eligibility to enter the United States since last summer.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, who consolidated her place as world No. 1 with a straight-sets win over last year’s Miami Open runner-up Elena Rybakina in the Qatar Open final last weekend, is seeking a second Miami Open title. Swiatek stopped fellow four-time major winner Naomi Osaka in the 2022 final.
Defending champion Petra Kvitova is not playing this year, having announced her pregnancy at the start of the year. Kvitova will have plenty of inspiration for making a speedy return to the court with new mom Osaka playing in Miami this year. Having returned to competition only six months after having her daughter Shai, she enjoyed her first back-to-back wins since her return in Qatar last week, beating world No.20 Caroline Garcia in the first round.
On the ladies side, former No. 1 Angelique Kerber, former Indian Wells champion Paula Badosa, Amanda Anisimova and Anastasija Sevastova are all on the entry list.
Defending men’s champion Danill Medvedev and finalist Jannik Sinner are back, with Sinner agengins his Miami loss to Medvedev with a five-set marathon comeback in the 2024 Australian Open final last month. Sinner became the first Italian man to win a Grand Slam title since Adriano Panatta back in 1976 and is undefeated since on a 12-match win streak.
World No. 2s players Aryna Sabalenka and 2022 Miami Open Champion Carlos Alcaraz, are both returning to the Miami Open with reclaiming their No.1 rankings at the top of the agenda. Sabalenka started the season successfully defending her Australian Open championship without surrendering a set. Alcaraz, who at age 20 already has a Wimbledon and US Open title, four ATP Masters 1000 and a half dozen other titles to his name, will be looking to get back into the winner’s circle for the first time in 2024.
Home hope abounds for the first American men's champion since John Isner in 2018 and first women's title holder since Sloane Stephens also 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 successfully defended Delray Beach on Monday, defeating buddy Paul in an all-American final.
Gauff, the global superstar from Delray Beach, Fla. Who turns 20 on March 13, won the Miami Open doubles title with Pegula last year, before going on to win the US Open singles title. She sits at a career high ranking singles ranking of No. 3. Gauff also scored her first professional match win at the Miami Open.
Known for its world-class fan experience, the Miami Open presented by Itaú will again welcome tennis fans to Hard Rock Stadium, complete with the only tennis stadium court in an NFL venue, and its sprawling campus in Miami Gardens.
The year’s edition of the Miami Open presented by Itaú will also feature more on-court action for fans than ever before. Taking place in the second week, the Miami Open Wheelchair Invitational and Major League Pickleball Showcase are also new additions to the program, marking the first time both events will take place at any 1000 series tournament.
Photo credit: Lindsey Godwin/Miami Open presented by Itaú