Miami Open’s Opening-Day Matches Rained Out

By Harvey Fialkov / Staff writer

MIAMI GARDENS — Australian qualifier Storm Hunter didn’t have to go far in search of inclement weather with all 24 qualifying matches and practices canceled Sunday, the opening day of the 41st Miami Open Masters 1000 tournament.

Clearly, New Zealand’s 12^th-seeded qualifier Lulu Sun was missing in action during the all-day washout at Hard Rock Stadium.

…Sisters act: While her more established sibling, 18-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva, is seeded eighth in the main draw, 21-year-old sister Erika Andreeva, had her first-round qualifying match with Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova rained out. Mirra won the doubles here last year with fellow Russian partner Diana Schnaider.

…Grand comeback?: Canadian Bianca Andreescu, once ranked No. 4 in the world in 2021 before a litany of injuries and mental breaks from the game has seen her ranking drop to its current No. 165, Her first-round qualifying match was postponed to Monday.

Andreescu, 26, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2019 when she won two Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells (as a wild card entrant) and Toronto, before capturing her lone major at the US Open, downing Serena Williams in the final to become the first Canadian woman to win a Slam in the Open Era. … She was a finalist in Miami in 2021 where she lost to Aussie Ash Barty after a foot injury forced her to retire in mid-match trailing 3-6, 0-4. … Andreescu has a dog named Coco but apparently is no relation to Delray’s Coco Gauff.

… Croatian comeback?:  Just a year ago, Donna Vekic was ranked a career-high No. 17. Two years ago, she reached the semifinals of Wimbledon where she lost a 2-hour-51-minute record-long semifinal to Italian dynamo Jasmine Paolini. A few weeks later she took home a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, bowing to China’s Qinwen Zheng. She was the first woman from Croatia to win a singles medal in the Olympics.

Life was good, but since then, the 29-year-old with more than $10 million in prize money, has plummeted to No. 103 and is in the qualifying draw. In 10 previous Miami Open appearances, Vekic hasn’t gone past the third round. She has won four singles titles, all on fast surfaces.

BTW Vekic is 6-2 against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion in Miami, and Sunday’s champion in Indian Wells, who was down a match point before defeating new world No. 2 Elena Rybakina. However, three of those wins came in qualies, early in the Belarusian’s career, with her most recent victory coming at the 2024 Dubai (6-0 in the third set) Masters 1000.

— Surging Gibson: Aussie Talia Gibson, 21, had never defeated a Top 50 player until the recently concluded Indian Wells Masters 1000 tournament where, on her way to a career-breakthrough quarterfinal run, notched wins over Top 20 opponents, Clara Tauson and Ekaterina Alexandrova, before stunning No. 7 Paolini in the round of 16. She began the tournament ranked No. 112.

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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.

In sports, Itaú has maintained a consistent presence in tennis for 50 years, supporting the development of the sport in Brazil and worldwide across multiple fronts — from talent development to the sponsorship of major international events — as part of its strategy to strengthen customer relationships, build brand relevance, and broaden access to sport.

About MARI 

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.