FRIDAY SCHEDULE and PREVIEW | 2024 Miami Open: SWIATEK, SABALENKA, SINNER, GAUFF in action but rain likely to wreak havoc

Friday, 22 March 2024 at 08:59

The second round heads towards conclusion on Friday or so we think at the Miami Open with a lot of top names set to be involved but weather set to wreak havoc for the next two days reportedly.

Our preview looks ahead to the mooted action in Miami including the main matches and talking points to look out for as the first weekend approaches.

Swiatek, Gauff, Sabalenka and Sinner headline bumper schedule

Rain is meant to set its course on Miami for most of Friday and the same can be said for Saturday meaning that how much play gets done is very much a mystery. But due to start proceedings off on adjacent big courts is Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.

Gauff of course gets top billing as a home hero and US Open champion despite her clash being a bit worse on paper as she faces Nadia Podoroska. While Sabalenka after the passing of her ex boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov was given an extra day by the organisers at the MIami Open to regroup and will now face Paula Badosa, her best friend. Albeit on Grandstand so away from the main glare which will likely be placed on Gauff.

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Jannik Sinner faces Andrea Vavassori following that. Imperious all season until his loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells, he was unsure how 100% he would be given a small injury. But he is here ready to play and the proof will be certainly in the pudding. Taylor Fritz then again delights the home fans as he will face Thiago Seyboth Wild to complete the afternoon with a home hope.

Going onto the evening, Iga Swiatek kicks off her Sunshine Double attempt for a second time as she will face former Masters winner, Camila Giorgi. Can the Italian cause her any issues or will it be plain sailing against for sublime Swiatek? Daniil Medvedev then rounds out proceedings facing Marton Fucsovics fresh off a final run at Indian Wells.

Elsewhere, Stefanos Tsitsipas will likely go from spectator to player and Paula Badosa vice versa as he follows on from his girlfriend on Grandstand to face Denis Shapovalov. Jessica Pegula and Frances Tiafoe open up their accounts from a US point of view against Zhu Lin and Christopher O'Connoll. But interspersed inbetween will be the battle of the mothers as Naomi Osaka faces Elina Svitolina in a hotly anticipated clash.

Elsewhere, Andrey Rublev, Andy Murray, Casper Ruud, Tommy Paul among others are set to be in action in a stacked schedule. But will it happen? Time will tell.