Eight-time Grand Slam champ begins quest for fifth Miami Open title on March 28
MIAMI – The Miami Open announced today that World No. 1 and reigning Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will be the featured evening match on Saturday, March 28 at 8 pm. The potential opponents for the defending Miami Open champion will be announced on Monday, March 23 during the draw ceremony, when the entire men’s draw is released.
Tickets to the 2015 Miami Open are on sale now and can be purchased by phone (305-442-3367) or online at www.miamiopen.com. With Saturday evening tickets starting at only $53, fans can enjoy some of the best tennis in the world as Djokovic seeks a fifth Miami Open title. With a Daily Double ticket, attendees can extend the experience, enjoying all the matches from the day and night sessions as well as all the incredible shopping, food and entertainment options on site, for just $109.
An electrifying two weeks of tennis caps off with the women’s final on Saturday, April 4 and the men’s final on Sunday, April 5.
Djokovic has finished on top of the year-end rankings in three of the last four years (2011-12; 2014). The Serbian has won at least one Grand Slam in each of the last five years, including his record-breaking performance at this year’s Australian Open. Djokovic captured his fifth title down under in January, making him the men’s singles all-time leader at the Australian Open in the open era.
The defending Miami Open champion captured his first career Master’s Series event on the purple hard courts of Miami in 2007, without dropping a set. He has gone on to hoist the trophy three more times and seeks a fifth title at this year’s tournament.
The road to greatness won’t be easy, as he will be facing a player field which consists of 49 of the top 50 ranked players in the world, including: 14-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, two-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray, former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, reigning US Open champion Marin Cilic and 2014 Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka.
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.
Qualifying rounds will be played March 23-24 and will determine 12 additional slots in each singles draw. The Miami Open will also award wildcards to five men and eight women. The main draw begins on Tuesday, March 24 as the women take the court, followed by the first round of the men’s main draw on Wednesday, March 25.
About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2015 Miami Open will be played March 23-April 5 at the Crandon Tennis Center in Miami. The two-week combined event is owned and operated by IMG. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the WTA calendar, and features the top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world. The tournament is widely regarded as the most glamorous on the ATP and WTA calendars because of its exotic Miami location, thriving nightlife, five-star hotels and restaurants, beautiful weather and beaches, and its celebrity appeal. For ticket information, call +1.305.442.3367 or visit www.miamiopen.com.
About Itaú
Itau is the largest Latin America privately owned bank, with approximately 95,000 employees and operations in 20 countries throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. Itaú’s relationship with sport goes back to the 1970s, when Itaú first sponsored the Itaú Tennis Cup in Brazil in 1970. Itaú has been a sponsor of the Miami Open for the last six years, and also sponsors the Rio Open, the only combined ATP/WTA event in South America. Itaú also supports the Brazilian Women’s Tennis Circuit, only female professional tournament in South America, certified by the Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), as well as the Tennis Institute Training Center, responsible for the development of young, new talent.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion and media operating in more than 25 countries around the world. IMG’s businesses include Events & Media, College, Golf, Tennis, Performance and IMG Academy, Fashion, Models, Clients, Licensing, Joint Ventures, and creative management agency Art + Commerce. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, the world’s leading entertainment and media agency. Together, the companies offer an unparalleled client roster; strategic partnerships with sponsors and brands; and marquee assets across sports, entertainment, events, music and fashion.
