Italian duo Bolelli-Vavassori win Miami Open doubles title

By Harvey Fialkov / Staff writer

MIAMI GARDENS – Simone Bolelli entered Saturday afternoon’s match with a heavy heart but was able to put aside tough news from home, and team up with fellow Italian partner Andrea Vavassori to win the men’s doubles championship at the Miami Open.

Bolelli, 40 and with specks of grey hair, had won 19 titles, including the Australian Open title with Italian Fabio Fognini in 2015, but he and Andrea Vavassori, 30, had never won a Masters 1000 title separately or together since joining forces three years ago.

Until now.

They also were up against fourth seeds Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Great Britain, a pair who has recently dominated the Italians.

Heliovaara and Patten have won the last four matches, including two this year and both coming in the semifinals in Adelaide and Doha. The pair has won 11 titles together, including the 2024 Wimbledon and 2025 Australian Open, beating Bolelli and Vavassori in the final.

It was a surprise that the seventh-seeds Bolelli and Vavassori dominated from the start in a 6-4, 6-2 victory. Bolelli dedicated the victory to his father, Daniela, who is battling health issues back home in Bologna.

“He’s facing a really tough time,’’ Bolelli said. “He has a big disease at the moment and they are trying to get him better. It’s tough. He’s not giving up. He’s fighting. We’ll see if he’ll be better. It’s always tough for us, always traveling. We don’t stay many times at home, so when these things happen it’s not easy to work with. [I’m lucky] to have friends, a lot of people around me helping.”

Vavassori stressed that they have a friendly rivalry with Patten, 29, and Heliovaara, 36, but he has had revenge on his mind ever since the Australian Open loss.

“When we lost in Australia, that was one of the toughest moments in my career,’’ Vavassori said. “I think we played a great final. I posted something about revenge a few days later and sometimes this week. … We are like a circus, always together for 10 months a year. It’s nice that they’re good people. We may not have a friendship but there’s always respect between us.

“Ever since we started playing together, one of our dreams was one of these titles. Simone has won so many things in his career but he missed a 1000, so we finally did it and we did it together, so it means even more for us. I’m proud of him, at one of the toughest moments he plays unbelievable tennis. There are more important things than tennis. For him to dedicate this tournament to his father is one of the best stories.”

This was Vavassori’s 12^th title but most significant, and the team’s ninth together.

“We played unbelievable tennis this week,” Bolelli said. “In the first round we saved two match points so we could’ve been home a week ago. Now we have the trophy. We raised our level step by step, match after match we played unbelievable, very aggressive tennis, serving really good. They’re one of the toughest teams and we are very happy with the victory. There’s a lot of emotion for me, my family and our team. We deserve it.”

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About the Miami Open presented by Itaú

The 2026 Miami Open presented by Itaú will be played March 15 – March 29 at Hard Rock Stadium. The 15-day event is owned and operated by MARI and Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a WTA 1000 event on the WTA calendar, and annually hosts the world’s best players, with recent champions including the top players in each tour’s rankings – Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. In 2025, the tournament attracted more than 400,000 spectators over its 15 days at Hard Rock Stadium. Widely regarded as the most glamorous stop on the ATP and WTA calendars, the Miami Open is defined by the city’s vibrant culture, nightlife, five-star dining and hospitality, iconic beaches, and celebrity appeal, along with its close proximity to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

About Itaú Unibanco

The largest bank in Latin America, Itaú Unibanco operates in 18 countries and serves more than 70 million customers, including individuals and companies across a wide range of segments. With the purpose of strengthening financial well-being, the bank supports customers at different stages of life by offering solutions tailored to their needs, as well as innovation and information that encourage more conscious decision-making and a healthier relationship with money.

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MARI is a global events and experiences company with a portfolio of some of the world’s most influential live properties across sport, art, lifestyle, and entertainment. From international tennis tournaments such as the Mutua Madrid Open and the Miami Open presented by Itaú to Frieze, a leading voice in contemporary art, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, TodayTix Group’s leadership in digital ticketing, and Barrett-Jackson’s leading collector car auctions, MARI’s portfolio reflects a shared ambition: to deliver live experiences that bring people together, inspire audiences and shape culture worldwide.

About Hard Rock Stadium

Hard Rock Stadium is a global entertainment destination and curator of world-class events. The best-in-class venue is home to the Miami Dolphins, University of Miami Hurricanes football team, the Capital One Orange Bowl, Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, Miami Open presented by Itaú, major concerts, the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and FIFA World Cup 2026™. Due to its overall sustainability efforts, the multifunctional venue holds Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification and FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation rating. For more information, visit hardrockstadium.com.