ANDY MURRAY GETS MIAMI OPEN WILDCARD, AS TOP TENNIS STARS PREPARE TO PLAY IN THE TOURNAMENT

Reporter : BEN UZOEGBUNAM

Two-time Miami Open winner, Andy Murray will be making his first appearance in the Miami Open in five years, after he was awarded a wildcard for the tournament.

Murray, who was ranked second in the world the last time he competed in Miami in 2016, is now ranked 118th after a long lay-off with hip problems.

The 33-year-old has been struggling with form and earlier this month, he was knocked out in the second round of the Rotterdam Open by world number eight Andrey Rublev after also receiving a wildcard.

The Miami Open was originally scheduled for March 23 – April 5, 2020 as part of the 2020 tennis season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was cancelled, but it is now scheduled to be played from March 22- April 4, 2021.

Men’s defending champion, Roger Federer pulled out due to COVID-19 safety concerns. However, other stars such as, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Theim and others will be gracing the men’s court at Miami garden in Florida.

In the women’s category, top seeds such as, defending champion Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep, Serena Williams and a host of others will be in action.

The Miami Open is a part of the masters 1000 category on the 2021 ATP TOUR.