"We’re going to need them on centre court because they have so many fans worldwide": Alexandra Eala and Joao Fonseca will receive main Miami Open billing

As preparations ramp up for the Miami Open, tournament director James Blake is juggling the final details ahead of the prestigious ATP and WTA event at Hard Rock Stadium. Speaking with Tennis Channel at the end of Indian Wells, the former world No. 4 discussed new developments around the tournament grounds, wildcard selections, emerging young stars and what fans should look forward to when they arrive in Miami.

Blake admitted that the final days before the tournament are always hectic. “My days right now are dodging rain,” Blake said with a smile to Tennis Channel. “Luckily right now I’ve got Sadie practising behind me. They’re very busy days.”

The event is continuing to evolve under its relatively new ownership structure, something Blake says has been an exciting development behind the scenes.

“We’ve got some new things with the new ownership group that came in last year, with Mark Ein taking over from IMG,” he explained. “It’s been a thrill to work with him, and with Stephen Ross, who partners so much with the Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium.

“We’re excited to have them involved, and I just want to continue the growth for the fans. It’s interesting walking around here — I get to check out all the new things that have gone on and see it from a player’s perspective, but also from a fan’s perspective and a sponsor’s perspective. The goal is really to make the experience better for everyone.”

One of the final pieces of the tournament puzzle each year is the allocation of wildcards, and Blake confirmed that the list is now complete. “No more — that’s all of them,” he said. “I know it might look a little strange because we were actually one of the first tournaments to have equal pay and we’re all about equality. We still have equal pay, but there are more wild cards on the women’s side than on the men’s side. That’s just a tour issue — the WTA allows us to have more wild cards.”

That flexibility allowed the tournament to welcome back some established champions and players returning from injury. “We’re able to give some of the great champions of our sport on the women’s side like Venus [Williams] and Sloane [Stephens], and others coming back from injury like Jennifer Brady and Ashlyn Krueger,” Blake said.

On the men’s side, the tournament opted to prioritise youth. “We went with a younger group — a couple of young Americans like Darwin Blanch and Nishesh Basavareddy, and that young French player Moïse Kouamé, who I think we’re going to see for quite a few years.

“He’s absolutely incredible. I look back at what I was like at 16 years old and this kid is well beyond anything I could have dreamed of at that age.”

Two young players in particular are expected to attract major attention in Miami — Brazilian star João Fonseca and Filipino prospect Alexandra Eala.

Blake confirmed both will likely feature prominently on the main stadium court. “Harkening back to last year when I learned my lesson that João Fonseca needs to be on stadium court — he will be,” Blake said.

“And Alexandra Eala has had quite a thrill ride over the last year as well. I feel like last year at this event was a bit of a coming-out party for her when she had some great results coming from a wildcard position.”

Given Miami’s diverse international audience, Blake believes the pair will have strong support from the stands.

“The international interest in both of them is so high, and Miami is such a cultural melting pot with so much international flavour. We’re going to need them on centre court because they have so many fans worldwide — it might feel like home matches for both of them.”

Beyond the tennis, Blake says one of the event’s greatest strengths is the atmosphere around the grounds at Hard Rock Stadium. “For me, I love starting the day with Oakberry — the açaí bowl on site is fantastic,” he said.

Visitors can also take advantage of the Sky View gondola that travels across the grounds — an attraction Blake admits he initially underestimated. “I really didn’t think that was going to be as big a hit as it’s been, but people love doing it,” he said. “We’ve even had a couple of players ride it with fans.”

The tournament’s layout was designed to offer an experience even outside the main stadium. “When we first moved here, what I really wanted was for people to have a great experience without even going into the stadium,” Blake said. “You can have a great day just walking around the grounds — great food, Cuban food, Italian food, American burgers and fries — you can experience everything you want on the outside as well.”

Another addition fans will notice this year is an increased focus on padel, a sport that has exploded in popularity across South Florida.

“We’ve got two padel courts,” Blake revealed. “We actually changed the entrance this year so it’s more of a grand entrance and it walks right past the courts.”

The event will even host a padel showcase featuring some of the world’s top players.

“Miami has really taken to padel,” Blake said. “It’s such a big sport here with tonnes of fans, so we’re going to have some of the best players in the world playing an event on site.

“I haven’t gotten into it as much as a player — and I might be a little busy these next two weeks — but I’m excited to watch the best in the world. It’s such a nuanced sport.”

With Indian Wells introducing mixed doubles, Blake was also asked whether Miami might consider a similar addition in the future. “We’ll look into anything that can add to the experience here,” he said.

However, he explained that the unique setup of the Miami Open presents logistical challenges. “The stadium here is beautiful, but the tennis setup is temporary,” Blake said. “We build it inside a football stadium that also hosts NFL games, boxing matches and concerts.

“So adding extra time can be more difficult than at a permanent tennis facility like Indian Wells.”

Despite those challenges, Blake remains confident the Miami Open’s distinctive venue continues to offer something special.

“We’re lucky to have all the amenities of a football stadium — the luxury seats, the boxes and so many cool things that make it different from other tennis venues,” he said.