By Tucker Verdi
Serena is returning home.
She’s won 7 titles down under in Melbourne, 7 Venus Rosewater Dishes on Centre Court, and 6 times under the lights at Arthur Ashe.
But nowhere has she won more than at Crandon Park, where she has claimed 8 championships in a tournament held only 90 minutes from where she grew up in Palm Beach Gardens.
After missing the 2017 tournament due to her pregnancy, the 36-year-old new mother is looking to ascend back to the top of the sport she has dominated. And there is no better place to cement her legacy with yet another comeback than the event she has dominated.
She no doubt feels more comfortable on Stadium Court than anywhere else, and that’s exactly where she’ll be when she takes on 20-year-old Naomi Osaka, the recent champion at Indian Wells, on Wednesday.
This is the final tournament in Key Biscayne before moving to Hard Rock Stadium in 2019. Her storied history here will carry forward to the new stadium. Williams actually took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new state-of-the-art facilities, saying, “I’m so happy this tournament is still going to be in Miami.”
Williams admits she calls the Miami Open home, having attended it often growing up.
Well, Serena, welcome home. We’re glad to have you back.
Serena Williams vs. Naomi Osaka will be the 4th match on Stadium Court during the Wednesday, March 21 day session, not beginning before 3:00pm. Tickets are available at miamiopen.com/dailytickets.
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.
