By: Christopher Menendez
Miami- World No. 1 and five-time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic defeats Tomas Berdych, 6-3, 6-3. Only seven players have won the first two ATP 1000 events of the season in Indian Wells and Miami. Djokovic is the only player to accomplish the feat three times and is on his way to breaking his own record this year.
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, AKA ‘the Bryan Brothers’, advance in their quarter-final match against Aussie’s Omar Jasika and John-Patrick Smith, 7-6(5), 6-3. The brothers form the doubles team with the most wins achieved with an amazing 109 career titles. An 11 tournament slump has left them trophyless. They play in the semifinals against Herbert and Mahut.
Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber passes American Madison Keys into the semifinals, 6-3, 6-2. Having reached the quarter-finals, Kerber returns to her career-best No.2 in the WTA. Kerber is set to compete against Azarenka in the semifinals. Kerber trained in Las Vegas with Steffi Graf and husband Andre Agassi earlier this year, which gave her confidence. Kerber beat Azarenka in the Australian Open quarterfinals earlier this year.
In men’s doubles, American Rajeev Ram and South African Raven Klaasen beat Philip Petzschner and Alexander Peya, 7-6(5), 5-7, 10-7.
About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2016 Miami Open will be played March 21-April 3 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.
