The Miami Open experienced significant disruptions due to torrential rain, leading to the cancellation of all first-round matches on Wednesday. This severe weather swept through South Florida, prompting officials to postpone play and adjust the tournament schedule.
Impact of the Weather on the Miami Open
With relentless downpours affecting conditions, organizers had to shut down play around 7 p.m. Up to 37 matches were removed from the order of play, including highly anticipated contests.
Planned Matches and Participant Highlights
Among the matches expected to take place was a night session featuring:
- Venus Williams (USA) vs. Francesca Jones (UK)
- Matteo Berrettini (Italy) vs. Alexandre Muller (France)
Venus Williams, at 45 years old, made her 23rd appearance in the tournament after receiving a wildcard. She aimed to break an eight-match losing streak this season.
Defending Champions
Returning to defend their titles, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Jakub Mensik from the Czech Republic have set high expectations. Sabalenka entered 2026 with confidence, having recently won a title at Indian Wells. She claimed her first Miami crown last year, defeating Jessica Pegula in straight sets.
Meanwhile, Mensik made headlines in 2025 by defeating six-time champion Novak Djokovic, claiming his first ATP Masters 1000 title with an impressive display of 14 aces.
Challenges Ahead
The cancellation of Wednesday’s matches has created a scheduling backlog as rain forecasts indicate a 95% chance of continued showers. Organizers intend to resume play on Stadium Court but will need to compress early-round schedules significantly.
Players such as Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas were among those affected. The excitement surrounding the Miami Open continues as fans anticipate the performances of top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka.
The Miami Open, held at Hard Rock Stadium since 2019, is part of the prestigious “Sunshine Double,” which includes the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The conditions challenge players as they transition from the dry climate of Southern California to Miami’s humid environment, with combined prize money exceeding $20 million.
