Miami Open: Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek lead singles draws

By Nick McCarvel

4 min|

Iga Swiatek is the 2022 champion in Miami

Picture by 2024 Getty Images

The second leg of tennis' "Sunshine Doubles" heads to Miami over the coming fortnight (20-31 March).

The Miami Open moved to Hard Rock Stadium (home of the NFL's Dolphins) from its original home on Key Biscayne in 2018, and will feature world No.1 Iga Swiatek on the women's side and 2023 champion Daniil Medvedev on the men's.

Novak Djokovic, the men's world No.1, has withdrawn from the event in order to focus on balancing his private and professional schedule. Djokovic who is yt to win a tournament this season, made an early-round exit at Indian Wells in California, where he was appearing for the first time in five years.

Former world No.1 and Grand Slam champion Simona Halep will be there, however, after a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which cut short the ban she was serving from the tennis doping body for an illegal substance infraction that dates back to August 2022.

The 2023 women's champ Petra Kvitova won't play after announcing recently that she's due to give birth later this year.

Australian Open champ Aryna Sabalenka and US Open winner Coco Gauff will feature with Swiatek and Halep, joined by top 5 stars Elena Rybakina (the 2023 runner-up) and American hope Jessica Pegula. Reigning Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova has withdrawn due to personal reasons.

Naomi Osaka continues her comeback after giving birth last summer, joined by fellow mums Caroline Wozniacki, Elina Svitolina and Angelique Kerber - among others.

Without Djokovic, No.2 Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open champ Jannik Sinner, 2023 Miami winner Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are the top four seeds.

Venus Williams, now 43, has received a wild card into the event, with other Americans including rising star Emma Navarro fresh off her Indian Wells quarter-final run and mainstays Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens.

On the men's side, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul will look for deep efforts at their home event.

Olympic Membership | Free Live Stream Sports & Original Series - click to join now!