The Miami Open presented by Itaú begins today with qualifying rounds at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The combined ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tournament runs through March 29 and draws top players from around the world for two weeks of hard-court action.
Qualifying matches for the women’s singles start Sunday. Men’s qualifying follows Monday. The women’s main draw begins Tuesday, March 17, while the men’s main draw starts Wednesday, March 18. Play begins at 11 a.m. for day sessions in the early rounds. The women’s singles final takes place Saturday, March 28, and the men’s singles final Sunday, March 29. Doubles finals wrap up the event on those same days.
Aryna Sabalenka returns to defend her women’s title. She beat Jessica Pegula in straight sets in last year’s final at the same venue. Jakub Mensik defends the men’s title he claimed in 2025 when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the championship match. Both players head strong fields packed with established stars and rising talent.
The entry lists feature nearly every top-10 player on both tours. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner top the men’s side, followed by Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti, Alex de Minaur, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Taylor Fritz.
On the women’s side, Sabalenka leads ahead of Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. Six former men’s champions appear in the draw: Mensik, Sinner, Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Hubert Hurkacz and Carlos Alcaraz.
Wild cards add extra storylines. Venus Williams received one for her 23rd appearance at the tournament, where she has lifted the trophy three times. Sloane Stephens, the 2018 women’s champion, also got a wild card. Rising teenagers fill other spots, including Emerson Jones, Darja Vidmanova, Lilli Tagger and several American prospects on the women’s side.
Fans on opening day get more than early matches. The grounds open at 10 a.m. with food, music and entertainment before play begins at 11 a.m. The stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, creates a lively setting that mixes tennis with South Florida energy. Theme days throughout the week celebrate different elements, such as Brazilian heritage and women’s empowerment.
Prize money totals $9,415,725 on each tour. The singles champion on both sides earns $1,151,380. Those figures reflect the event’s status as one of the biggest outside the Grand Slams.
The tournament marks the end of the North American hard-court swing after Indian Wells. Players now shift focus to points, rankings and momentum heading into the clay season. The draw ceremony happens Monday, March 16, at 1 p.m., setting up the first-round matchups.
Established in 1985, the Miami Open has grown into a key stop on the calendar. The venue at Hard Rock Stadium accommodates large crowds and delivers the scale fans expect from a combined 1000-level event. With so many top players confirmed and no major absences reported among the elite, the coming days promise competitive tennis right from the start of qualifying.
Action on the outer courts today gives lower-ranked players a chance to earn main-draw spots. Top seeds enter later in the week, but the early rounds set the tone. Spectators can follow order of play and practice schedules on the official site as the tournament builds toward the later stages.
The full player fields remain subject to minor changes, but the core lineup stands ready. Miami Gardens hosts the action through the end of the month, with night sessions adding to the schedule once the main draw begins. This setup allows fans to catch both day and evening matches across the two weeks.
