Miami Open issues perplexing and embarrassing update

The Miami Open is underway in the Sunshine State. However, rain has already wrecked its progress.

Much to fans’ chagrin, this long-running tennis tournament relocated from Key Biscayne to Miami in 1987. Each year, the Miami Dolphins Hard Rock Stadium is repurposed as the tournament’s Stadium Court.

The Miami Open is very proud of how the football stadium can be temporarily reengineered to become a tennis court. That may have changed today.

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No March 18 matches on Miami Open Stadium Court

Around 6:00 PM EDT on March 17, the tournament posted a social media notice that no matches will be held on the Stadium Court on March 18 due to “heavy rainfall in the lead-up to the tournament.”

An extra day is needed to prepare the Stadium Court, which seats 13,800 spectators, “for optimal conditions.” However, players have reportedly been practicing there on March 17.

Ticketholders will be contacted for next steps; however, the Stadium Court will reportedly be ready on Thursday, March 19.

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Where will everyone sit?

Popular players such as Brazilian star Joao Fonseca and American legend Venus Williams are scheduled to play March 18.

An intriguing match between 30-something American WTA stars Sloane Stephens and Jennifer Brady is also scheduled for March 18.

In the early days of the first round (Round of 128) matches, there is a lot of tennis to be played. Losing a major venue has to be an immense headache for former player, ESPN commentator, and tournament director James Blake.

It is unclear how many tickets have been sold for March 18, and where everyone will sit. The other “larger” courts are Grandstand which seats 5,191. Court 1 seats 3,024, and Butch Buchholz Arena seats 1,564.

Watch the Miami Open live (and with match replays) on the Tennis Channel through March 29.

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