DAY 5 PREVIEW: A STAR-STUDDED AFFAIR ON STADIUM COURT
By Tucker Verdi
Miami Gardens, FL — A host of Grand Slam winners, World No. 1 players, and Miami Open champions will grace the Stadium Court during Day 5 of the 2019 Miami Open presented by Itaú.
No. 1 Naomi Osaka — the reigning US and Australian Open champ, will step out onto the court first against qualifier Yanina Wickmayer at noon. John Isner, who is seeded 7th this year, will take the court after that match to begin his title defense against qualifier Lorenzo Sonego. The 32-year-old American made a scintillating run to the singles title in 2018 that marked the beginning of his career-best year on tour.
Serena Williams (No. 10) makes her 18th appearance in the main draw with a second round match against Rebecca Peterson following Isner/Sonego. Winner of 23 Grand Slam and eight Miami Open singles titles, Williams is seeking her first title since January of 2017 when she claimed that 23rd and most recent Grand Slam victory in Melbourne.
Top-seed Novak Djokovic will start off the night session of Day 4 with a matchup against Bernard Tomic. The 31-year-old Serbian is looking to make history with a record seventh Miami Open singles title, breaking his current tie with Andre Agassi.
Play on Stadium Court will end with a pair of rising American stars who have taken very different paths to professional tennis. On one side, No. 25 Danielle Collins — a surprise semifinalist here last year as a qualifier, played tennis in college and won two NCAA titles. On the other, 16-year-old Whitney Osuigwe, who made her WTA main draw debut at the Miami Open in 2018.
The field is so deep on Friday that defending women’s singles champ Sloane Stephens will begin her 2019 run on Grandstand in the last match of the afternoon, taking on Ons Jabeur.
In all, eight of the top 10 women and four of the top 10 men are in action. See the full order of play for Day 5 here.
And get your tickets to see it all happen here!
