Emma Raducanu leads British hopes as Sinner eyes Sunshine Double
Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper will lead British hopes at the Miami Open as the world’s elite players transition from Indian Wells to the East Coast.
The prestigious two-week event takes place at the iconic Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.
Czech rising star Jakub Mensik and world number two Aryna Sabalenka enter the tournament as defending champions.
The elusive Sunshine Double
Sabalenka arrives in prime form after conquering Elena Rybakina to secure her 23rd career title in the Californian desert.
If the Belarusian powerhouse retains her crown in Miami, she will become the fifth woman to complete the renowned ‘Sunshine Double’.
Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek are the only female competitors to have successfully won both tournaments back-to-back.
Eighteen-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova won the inaugural Miami tournament in 1985 and knows the physical toll involved.
“I think it’s just because it’s tough fields, the biggest and the best,” Navratilova explained.
“With back-to-back two-week events, it’s tough to stay on top of it for so long, physically or emotionally.”
Sinner seeks continued dominance
In the men’s draw, Jannik Sinner is also pursuing the rare double after dispatching Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells final.
The four-time Grand Slam champion did not drop a single set during a flawless fortnight to claim his first silverware of the season.
British contenders and potential clashes
Former US Open champion Raducanu returns to a venue where she enjoyed a highly successful run to the quarter-finals 12 months ago.
She narrowly lost to Jessica Pegula during that career-best appearance and will be eager to rediscover similar momentum.
The British star is joined in the main draw by compatriot Sonay Kartal, who recently impressed by reaching the last 16 at Indian Wells.
Kartal is making her Miami debut and must overcome recent ATX Open winner Peyton Stearns in a challenging opening round.
If the British youngster advances past the American, it will set up a blockbuster second-round tie against Raducanu.
