The Miami Open announced its 2019 player list earlier this week and Roger Federer is scheduled to show up at the tournament that has moved from Key Biscayne to the Miami Dolphins football stadium.
Due to his longevity on tour, Federer has been allowed to skip Masters 1000s in recent years without penalty or without having to cite an injury. Miami has been one of the casualties on a few occasions. The 37-year-old Swiss was absent in 2013, 2015, and 2016 (withdrew due to illness) before capturing the title in 2017. He returned last spring but lost his opening match to Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Federer, who is also playing the clay-court swing this season for the first time since 2016, appears to be headed for an 18th career appearance in Miami–and first, of course, at the new venue.
In a recent video posted on various social media channels, Dolphins president Tom Garfinkel unveiled what the new Miami Open will now look like when it moves to Hard Rock Stadium. Highlights include luxury seating, live music, global art, and an extensive international cuisine. Parking is on site–unlike how it was on Key Biscayne–for easy access to the courts. There are 18 practice courts, 12 match courts, and additional areas for fans to dine, unwind, and relax. The largest video board in tennis will be outside the main stadium for all grounds-goers to see.
As for the rest of the player field, the men’s list currently includes Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, reigning Indian Wells title winner Juan Martin Del Potro, 2018 Miami runner-up Alexander Zverev, and surprise defending champion John Isner.
The ATP Rulebook says (p.7.04): “For each ATP Tour Masters 1000 tournament, players with an ATP Rankings position that qualifies them as a direct acceptance or alternate, shall be automatically entered by ATP.”
Rafa said about his schedule at his press conference on Jan.27:
“I have Acapulco, I have Indian Wells, and that’s my calendar today. The only thing I am sure I am not going to play something before these two events. That’s my calendar today. Then we see. Depend how things go, I keep going or I take a rest to play on clay.”
Yep, that’s what Rafa said. I wonder if he will stick to his plan. I think he will because he wants to minimize, as much as he can, his chances of getting injured. Clay awaits him.