By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
The distinct voice of chair umpire Mohamed Layani bellowed our the words “Game, set and match, Roger Federer” as I walked towards the entrance to the Hard Rock Stadium, the new venue for the Miami Open tennis championships.
After being played on the island paradise of Key Biscayne since 1987, the tournament moved north and inland to Miami Gardens and the grounds of the this American football stadium starting in 2019, ushering in a new era for the tournament and its own chapter in the storied history this sport and its iconic venues.
It would have been nice if Federer was the first player I would see play in this new environment. However, it actually seemed more appropriate that the first player I see in this setting be Venus Williams, who was next to play Simona Halep. Venus and her younger sister Serena are probably the two players most synonymous with this event. And, to boot, they are both minority owners in the Miami Dolphins, the National Football League team that play in the stadium. Together, the sisters won this tournament 11 times (8 for Serena, 3 for Venus) and played an historic final 20 years ago in 1999, the first big tournament final pitting sister against sister since the 1884 Wimbledon final between Maud and Lillian Watson. Venus won the title that day 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 and the two sisters would play many more matches in finals and semifinals and quarterfinals for the next two decades, Serena taking the mantle from her older sister and becoming arguably the greatest women’s tennis player of all time.
I first wanted to sit in the upper deck of the stadium and look down at the court and it was comforting to venture to the upper level via an escalator. It’s an amazing view and not unlike the upper decks of Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, the largest tennis stadium in the world. The four large screen video boards in each corner of the stadium provide amazing close up views of the court and I believe these may be bigger than those than at the U.S. Open. The acoustics, however, leave something to be desired for years to come as the player introductions sounded a bit like adults from the old “Peanuts” cartoon specials from the cheap seats. One of the first things I noticed while sitting in the upper deck was a drink vendor working the aisles, in what may be a first in tennis history. He wasn’t exactly yelling “Beer here!” but he was providing a nice service for fans in their seats needing hydration.
In the second set, I decided to move into the “lower stadium” – the stadium within the stadium – and found it, obviously, much more intimate but even more intimate than Key Biscayne. The Stadium Court is more intimate but yet less intimate than the old Biscayne. You can sit in the rafters and laugh and talk with your friends while play goes under well below or you can sit in the stadium-within-the-stadium and be right on top of the action.
After Halep defeated Williams in straight sets, I ventured out on the grounds for the first time and was completely blown away. The set-up was simply amazing. Scenic vistas, food courts, courts everywhere with excellent and ample seating on the sides and behind the courts. Set-ups for music, bars, restaurants and even an art gallery are just a few of the attractions. Flowers and greenery are seen everywhere. The grounds and the elaborate and elegant offerings are so appetizing that you would be thoroughly entertained even if you don’t watch one tennis ball being hit!
