MIAMI, Fla. (www.sonyopentennis.com) – 17-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams will begin defending her Sony Open singles title during the day session (Session 5) on Thursday, March 20. The opponent for the six-time Sony Open champion will be revealed on Sunday, March 16 when the rest of the women’s draw is announced. The most glamorous tournament on the Tours’ schedule runs March 17-30 at the Crandon Park Tennis Center.
Williams opening match will kick-off an exciting weekend of tennis which will include ATP World No. 2 Novak Djokovic taking the court on Friday, March 21 (Session 7) and World No. 1 Rafael Nadal making his return to Miami on Saturday, March 22 (Session 10). Tickets are available and can be purchased online at www.SonyOpenTennis.com or by phone at 305-442-3367.
In 2013, Williams claimed her sixth title in Miami, surpassing Steffi Graff for the most by any woman in Sony Open history and tying Andre Agassi for the most by any player all-time. To become the winningest player in Sony Open history Williams will have to navigate an impressive player field including Australian Open winner Li Na, four-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova, two-time Sony Open champion Victoria Azarenka and many more.
Not to be outdone, the men’s player field is even more impressive with 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, defending Sony Open champion Andy Murray, Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka and former US Open champion Juan Martin del Porto all entered to play.
But the Sony Open is not just a tennis tournament, it is a lifestyle event. The Sony Open offers a range of activities for the entire family. From the die-hard tennis fan to the casual consumer, the Sony Open features food by world-class chefs, luxurious shopping options, live music, beautiful weather and a host of other activities.
Come out and see why the Sony Open is considered the place to be in March!
ABOUT THE SONY OPEN: The 2014 Sony Open will be played March 17-30 at the Crandon Tennis Center in Miami. The two-week combined event is owned and operated by IMG. The Sony 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. In 2013 Andy Murray defeated David Ferrer for his second Sony Open title, while Serena Williams knocked off Maria Sharapova to capture her record sixth title in Miami. For ticket information, call (305) 442-3367 or visit the website at www.SonyOpenTennis.com
ABOUT SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS: Sony Mobile Communications is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation, a leading global innovator of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for both the consumer and professional markets. Through its Xperia™ smartphone portfolio, Sony Mobile Communications delivers the best of Sony technology, premium content and services, and easy connectivity to Sony’s world of networked entertainment experiences. For more information: www.sonymobile.com
ABOUT IMG: IMG Worldwide is a global sports, entertainment and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries around the globe. IMG’s areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging: IMG College; IMG’s Joint Ventures in China, Brazil and India; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academies; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing. More information is available at www.imgworld.com
