by : Christopher Menendez
Miami- The stadium kicked off with a match between Svetlana Kuznetsova and Timea Bacsinszky. Kuznetsova has a Top 10 ranking at stake if she wins the Miami title this year. Also on the fence is surpassing $20 Million in career prize money.
Earlier in the tournament, Kuznetsova defeated the eight-time champion Serena Williams and has won four consecutive three-set matches to reach the semifinals.
“I’m happy I could hang in there,” says Kuznetsova. “I haven’t been feeling my best, but I’ve been fighting with every ball and trying to run as much as I could.”
The Bryan brothers, just yesterday insinuating an end to their bad luck, lost to their French opponents Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, 6-3, 6-3. They were looking to become the first team to win three straight Miami titles since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde. Herbert and Mahut scored eight aces while the brothers only scored one.
Kei Nishikori of Japan and Gael Monfils went head to head in a three game match of 135+ Mph serves. Monfils fans filled the stadium and cheered him on, but Nishikori prevailed, winning the tense three-set match, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(3). Nishikori advances to the semifinals where he will compete with the winner of Raonic vs. Kyrgios later today.
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.
