MIAMI – The Miami Open announced its wildcard entries for the 2015 tournament to be held at Crandon Park Tennis Center March 23-April 5. Among this year’s entries are 2014 U.S. Open phenom Cici Bellis, Olympic silver medalist Laura Robson, former top-10 Nicole Vaidisova, and local product Sachia Vickery.
The women’s main draw will begin Tuesday, March 24; while the men’s main draw kicks-off on Wednesday, March 25. Qualifying rounds for both the women and men start on Monday, March 23. Fans can catch the early action with ticket prices starting as low as $9.
Bellis, made history at the 2014 U.S. Open when she knocked off Australian Open finalist and 12th seeded player Dominika Cibulkova in the first round of the U.S. Open. She became the tournament’s youngest, first-round winner since Anna Kournikova (1996) and youngest American since Mary Joe Fernandez accomplished the same feat in 1986. Bellis ended the year ranked as the No. 1 junior in the world.
Robson, who was awarded a wildcard entry into qualifying, brings an Olympic silver medal to Miami with her. She teamed with Andy Murray in mixed doubles at the 2012 Olympics in London and captured her first career Olympic medal.
Former world top-10, Vaidisova, is a six-time winner on the WTA tour. After almost a five-year absence, the Czech returned to tennis at the end of 2014 and is looking to make an impact on the purple courts.
Vickery, a local product out of Hollywood (FL), received a wildcard entry into qualifying. She was the 2014 USTA National Junior Champion; and has made two career Grand Slam appearances. Advancing to the second round of the 2013 US Open, after receiving a wildcard into the tournament’s main draw, the young American hopes to have success on her home turf.
The complete list of wildcards for men into the main draw is Andrey Rublev, Hyeon Chung, Ryan Harrison and Kyle Edmund. Receiving wildcard entries into qualifying on the men’s side include Gianluigi Quinzi, Omar Jasika, Michael Mmoh, Taro Daniele and Elias Ymer. Women receiving wildcards into the main draw include Cici Bellis, Indy De Vroome, Nicole Vaidisova, Sorana Cirstea, Natalya Vikhlyantseva, Paula Badosa. Laura Robson, Oceane Dodin, Fanny Stollar, Ipek Soylu, Aranxa Rus, Sachia Vickery, all received qualifying wildcard entries.
About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2015 Miami Open will be played March 23-April 5 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.
