Victoria Azarenka Awarded Wildcard
MIAMI, FL (March 14, 2018) – Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has been granted a main draw wildcard to the 2018 Miami Open, strengthening an already world-class player field. The Miami Open is taking place March 19-April 1 at the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne.
The former World No. 1 and three-time Miami Open champ joins a tournament field that includes 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams; World No. 1 Simona Halep; current U.S. Open Champion Sloane Stephens; 7-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams; and 2017 Australian Open champion and Miami Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki.
American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, a five-time Grand Slam doubles champion joins a bevy of future stars receiving main draw wildcards into this year’s tournament.
Reigning ITF Junior World champion and Bradenton, Florida native Whitney Osuigwe; nine-time ITF title winner Bernarda Pera; five-time ITF title winner Ajla Tomljanovi ; reigning Junior U.S. Open champion Amanda Anisimova; and 2017 junior Wimbledon champion Claire Liu all join the impressive women’s field.
Women receiving qualifying wildcards include five-time Grand Slam doubles champion Roberta Vinci, 2017 Wimbledon Juniors finalist Ann Li, ITF title winners Antonia Lottner, Katie Boulter, Allie Kiick, Tereza Smitkova, and Emiliana Arango; along with Xiyu Wang of China.
On the men’s side, the Miami Open awarded main draw wildcards to several rising stars including two-time ACC Player of the Year (2016, 2017), Chris Eubanks; Nicola Kuhn of Spain, one of the youngest Challenger Winners in 2017; Sweden’s Mikael Ymer; Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic and Nicolas Jarry of Chile.
They join a competitive field that features World No. 1 and defending Miami Open champion Roger Federer, Grand Slam winners Juan Martin Del Potro and Marin Cilic; and 12-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic.
Qualifying draw wildcards were extended to Joao Souza (Brazil), Casper Ruud (Norway), 2017 Wimbledon Boys’ Doubles champion Axel Geller (Argentina), 2015 ATP Challenger title winner Elias Ymer (Sweden), 2016 USTA 18s Boys’ national champion Michael Mmoh (USA), and 2017 USTA Boys’ 18s national champion Patrick Kypson (USA).
Tickets are on sale now. Packages here.
The Miami Open is more than just a tennis event. Located in one of the world’s most beautiful vacation destinations with a diverse fan base and exquisite dining and luxury shopping offerings, the Miami Open has an energy and excitement that is uniquely Miami.
2018 Miami Open Wildcards
Men’s Main Draw
Nicola Kuhn
Mikael Ymer
Chris Eubanks
Miomir Kecmanovic
Nicolas Jarry
Women’s Main Draw
Serena Williams
Victoria Azarenka
Claire Liu
Amanda Anisimova
Whitney Osuigwe
Bernarda Pera
Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Ajla Tomljanovic
Men’s Qualifying
Jao Souza
Casper Ruud
Axel Geller
Elias Ymer
Patrick Kypson
Women’s Qualifying
Ann Li
Antonia Lottner
Katie Boulter
Tereza Smitkova
Allie Kiick
Xiyu Wang
Roberta Vinci
Emiliana Arango
