Why Masters 1000 tournaments need a new rule as Miami Open faces early problems

The 2026 Miami Open has already had its schedule disrupted by rain.

The 2026 Miami Open is already dealing with major disruptions in the early rounds of the tournament.

Rain has caused issues at the Miami Open already this year, with day two of the main draw completely washed out and no play taking place.

This isn’t the first time weather has caused problems at this event, and the forecast suggests rain could be a factor throughout the tournament.

The Miami Open is considered one of tennis’ top events, but if these issues continue, it may need to make changes to maintain its status.

Roofed Courts Should Be Mandatory for Masters 1000 Events

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami has 27 courts in total, with 10 of them regularly used for matches.

Since the move from Crandon Park in 2019, more than $500 million has been poured into the multi-sport complex. But even after all that investment, there’s still no roof over any of the courts.

This is now the seventh year of hosting the event at Hard Rock Stadium, and given how often rain delays crop up, it’s surprising there’s still no cover over Stadium Court.

The Miami Open does have a 12-day schedule, so they should get through all the matches. But with entire days wiped out by rain, plenty of fans are missing out on seeing their favourite players.

A roof would guarantee play on at least one court and could even encourage more people to buy tickets for Stadium Court, which would only benefit the event. Iga Swiatek mentioned her training sessions have been affected by this year’s rain delays.

Building a roof would be expensive up front. But looking ahead, it could pay off by helping Miami maintain its place among the top tournaments in tennis.

Which Masters 1000 tournaments have roofed courts?

While Miami’s lack of a roof is drawing attention now, it’s not the only tournament facing this issue.

Currently, eight of the 12 outdoor ATP/WTA 1000 events don’t have a roof. The Italian Open had previously promised to add one by 2026, though that hasn’t happened yet.

The Madrid Open has three covered courts, making it the best-equipped in that regard. All three ATP/WTA 1000 tournaments in China also have at least one roofed court.

It’s worth noting that all four North American ATP/WTA 1000 tournaments, where the weather can be unpredictable, don’t have any covered courts.

With rain continuing to disrupt play, Miami has responded by scheduling a rare 10 am start on day three to try and catch up on matches.

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