Why I Just Adore The Miami Open

By Scoop Malinowski

My first Miami Open was four years ago in 2012. And this year will be my fourth in a row.

Key Biscayne, the site of the tournament, is a paradise island key, just a causeway and bridge away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Miami, South Beach and Brickell. To bike or drive over the Rickenbacker Causeway the first time is not unlike climbing Mount Everest or seeing the Grand Canyon. The beauty of the scenery is the best of America.

Attending the tournament for four years now, I’ve learned some of the history. Shaquille O’Neal lived at the end of Bay Drive, a short walk from former President Richard Nixon’s helicopter pad which is now a converted yacht dock.

Nick Bollettieri used to coach one of the Bee Gees kids in Key Biscayne. And one of Nick’s coaches picked up the phone at the Gibbs brother’s house and it was “Bill Gates” calling.

Lennox Lewis plays basketball with his friends on the park courts sometimes. Who knows which soccer stars you might run into at the supermarket or one of the restaurants in the downtown area of Key Biscayne less than a mile from the tennis complex which is located just across the road from the beaches.

When I was working on my Facing Federer book two years ago, I saw Gilles Muller practicing for a couple of days in a row on the public hard courts a half mile from the Crandon Park Tennis Center. Muller was eliminated from qualies and working on his game with a player named Jean Yves Aubone to extend his career which was in trouble. But look at Muller now, he’s back firmly into the top 75 and playing splendid tennis again.

I’ve seen Arnaud Clement and Jurgen Melzer jogging alone on the footpaths in the residential area.

Remember the 1998 final when Marcelo Rios beat Andre Agassi to become ATP World Tour No. 1? Yesterday I just happened to play a USTA mixed doubles 9.0 combined in Sarasota’s Bath & Racquet Club against a guy named Rene Muzquiz who was a good friend of Rios and was actually with Rios in the locker room before the Agassi match. He told me a story about that day. Before the match, it was just Agassi, Rios, Larry Stefanki, Brad Gilbert and Rene in the locker room. Shortly before they went on court, Rios said let’s play soccer (with a tennis ball). Rios proceeded to kick the ball which sailed less than an inch by Agassi’s ear. Of course, Rios won the match with one of the most brilliant displays of tennis of the decade, and by achieving the top world ranking that day, Rios earned $2.5 million dollar bonuses from Nike and Yonex.

This year’s event may be missing Roger Federer, Tommy Haas, Petra Kvitova, and Richard Gasquet but it doesn’t matter much, the atmosphere of the event is never lacking. The tennis is always spectacular. There are many hot players right now, and primed to shine: Feliciano Lopez is bidding to crack the top ten for the first time. Thanasi Kokkinakis is about to enter the top hundred – he’s just eighteen. Eighteen year old Borna Coric is in the main draw. Jelena Jankovic is in fine form after her Indian Wells final. Simona Halep is chasing Maria Sharapova for the number two WTA ranking. Veteran Juan Martin Del Potro is supposed to make his comeback this week after the wrist injury. Lleyton Hewitt is in the draw – it’s his last year on the tour. Young Americans Ryan Harrison, Jack Sock, Tim Smyczek, and Austin Krajicek are all due for a breakout surge in a Masters 1000 event. William Hill will serve your interests in Tennis betting

The most memorable match last year was the Jack Sock/Ryan Harrison doubles semi vs. Robert Farah/Juan Sebastian Cabal won by the Colombian in overtime of a match tiebreak before a raucous Davis Cup like crowd. I still remember Harrison’s netted drop shot attempt at 9-9. Sock was the best player on the court that day and a few months later he won Wimbledon with Vasek Pospisil.

Three years ago (2012) was another very memorable match. Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek had just won the Australian Open versus the Bryans (The Bs would have five-peated in Melbourne if they hadn’t lost that final) and were playing the Bryans again. Paes/Step were up a set and just got the break and sat for the changeover. I was sitting next to Paes coach Rick Leach in the player box just a few feet behind them. When they sat down, Step, on the left leaned over and said quietly to Paes, “I love you.” Paes, on the right chair, gave Step’s head a one handed hug and kissed his forehead. They went on to beat the Bryans again that afternoon in Miami and eventually they won that Miami title too.

The Miami Open is also very accessible to players and former players who roam the grounds. You can walk by Serena, Dominik Hrbaty, Corrado Barrazzuti, Mr. and Mrs. Djokovic, Richard Williams, Nick Bollettieri, and many others on the same day.

Today I arrive around one, I see Simon and Chardy as I pick up my media credential. I walk into the first court and as I enter on the baseline CiCi Bellis is running straight to me for a wide backhand return. CiCi is up a set. Someone tells me tickets are fifteen bucks now for quails, not counting parking.

Then I got to see Van Uytanck of Belgium who is a big strong girl, she’s up 76 22 on IMG’s Ingrid Neel who is still a teenager, about seventeen now. Nick B is there watching intently.

Murray is hitting with Nishikori, then after he hits more with Kokkinakis. They chat next to each other on changeovers and seem chummy. Murray likes the kid. Mauresmo is here but she mainly just walks around with her Head and picks up balls. She doesn’t seem to offer much. Bjorkman is not here.

Hewitt is hitting with Matosevic in late afternoon. It’s hot in the sun. Hewitt looks okay, countering well but not getting to those wide balls as he once did.

Fognini is hitting with someone.

Coric is hitting with Smyczek.

I meet a guy named Don Leclair, who is a photographer and fan. He told me Malek Jaziri came up to him from behind and told him thank you for a great photo Don took of him which was used by the Tunisian tennis federation and for his own social media. Imagine that, a pro player recognizing a fan from social media who took a nice photo and then seeing him at a tournament, approaching him and thanking him. I just became a fan of Jaziri after hearing this. Don said it made his day.

There aren’t any noticeable changes except for the footpaths were repaved I think, they look newer. Also, the four public courts down the road are now used by players for the whole tournament. Bellis, Querrey, Berdych, Bellucci, Hantuchova and many others used them today.

—————–

Ingrid Neel · Key Biscayne · Miami Open · Nick Bollettieri · Sam Querrey · Shaq

8 comments

<< Miami Open Tuesday

Federer vs. Djokovic, the best rivarly in sport today >>