2018 Wildcards Announced

VICTORIA AZARENKA AWARDED WILDCARD TO 2018 MIAMI OPEN

Wildcard list features young stars and Grand Slam champions

MIAMI, FL – 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 2018 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 Tomljanović; 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 start at $136 and individual session tickets start at $35.  Fans looking to catch all the action can purchase tickets online at www.miamiopen.com or call the Miami Open Ticket Office at 305-442-3367 to watch the tournament during its final Key Biscayne appearance.

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

Joao 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

About the Miami Open presented by Itaú

The 2018 Miami Open will be played March 19-April 1 at the Crandon Park 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 94,000 employees and operations in 19 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, events and media, operating in more than 30 countries. The company represents and manages some of the world’s greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is one of the largest independent producers and distributors of sports media. IMG also specializes in sports training; league development; and marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions.