Tennis Mar 17, 2026

Miami Open on Sky Sports Tennis: Jack Draper in action as Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka look to complete 'Sunshine Double'

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Miami Open on Sky Sports Tennis: Jack Draper in action as Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka look to complete 'Sunshine Double'

From tennis paradise to the East Coast, the second of back-to-back WTA and ATP 1000 events begins this week with the world’s best stars preparing to complete the 'Sunshine Double' at the Miami Open.

The iconic Hard Rock Stadium will play host to the two-week-long event in Miami as Jakub Mensik and Aryna Sabalenka look to defend their titles.

Sabalenka to claim the desert title for the first time and secure her 23rd career crown and if she defends her title in Florida, she will complete the 'Sunshine Double'.

Only four women have achieved the unique double - Steffi Graf (1994 and 1996), Kim Clijsters (2005), Victoria Azarenka (2016) and, most recently, Iga Swiatek (2022).

Martina Navratilova, who first won the first Miami Open in 1985 explained: "I think it's just because it's tough fields, the biggest and the best. And then there's the adjustment as far as weather and the courts. It just weighs you down. With back-to-back two-week events, it's tough to stay on top of it for so long, physically or emotionally.

"It's a longer stretch of engagement."

Jannik Sinner to put him on course for completing the double.

The four-time Grand Slam champion had had a slightly underwhelming start to the season by his stratospheric standards but he was peerless in the Californian desert, not dropping a set through the fortnight.

, still recovering from post viral symptoms she picked up in the Middle East last month.

The former US Open champion had been looking to follow up her career-first WTA 1000 quarter-final run in Miami from a year ago, and could have faced compatriot Sonay Kartal in the second round.

The in-form Kartal will instead lead the charge for the Brits in Miami, following on from her run to the last 16 at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

She faces American Peyton Stearns in the first round, who is in strong form herself, having won the ATX Open WTA 250 event at the end of February.

Katie Boulter has also received direct entry into the main draw and faces Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maniero in the opening round before a potential clash with 17th seed Clara Tauson.

The 29-year-old, who picked up her fourth tour-level title last month at the Ostrava Open, has Karolina Muchova and Iga Swiatek in her quarter of the draw.

Fran Jones completes the line up of British women set to contest the singles title and she opens her campaign against tennis legend Venus Williams, 45, in a mouth-watering contest.

Since the event's 1985 inauguration, Serena Williams has won the Miami Open title eight times She has enjoyed a pair of three-peats, from 2002-04 and 2013-15.

On the men's side, Jack Draper will lead the British charge as he eyes a second Masters 1000 title.

He reached the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open when defending his Indian Wells title last week, where he claimed a .

Seeded 25th and with a bye through to the second round, Draper will play the winner of Reilly Opelka and Nuno Borges, with sixth seed Taylor Fritz a potential opponent in the third round.

Should Draper make it to the fourth round, he could face Casper Ruud, who he beat in last year's Indian Wells final, with a possible clash with world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz lying in wait in the quarter-finals.

New British No 1 Cam Norrie is in the opposite half of the draw and in line for a fourth-round meeting with Sinner should he make it that far.

There are four Brits in men's singles qualifying with Jack Pinnington Jones, Billy Harris, Jay Clarke, and Arthur Fery all looking to make the main draw.

The day sessions will begin at 4pm UK time (11am local time) with night sessions starting at midnight UK time (7pm local time).

Novak Djokovic .

The 38-year-old was beaten by Draper in a gruelling fourth-round encounter at Indian Wells earlier this week and has opted not to compete in the second leg of the 'Sunshine Double'.

Djokovic is a six-time champion in Florida and reached the final last year, losing to surprise champion Jakub Mensik, but that was the first time he had played at the tournament since 2019.

Alcaraz will be the top seed at the Masters 1000 event, which begins on Wednesday.

Watch the Miami Open, live on Your Site or and the , giving Your Site customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost.

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