WTA PREVIEW | 2024 Miami Open: Can Iga SWIATEK seal Sunshine Double as Simona HALEP also returns to tennis after doping saga

The 2024 Miami Open takes place between March 19 - March 31, 2024 and cements the final knockings of the outdoor hard season and the Sunshine Double with focus soon turning to clay for many of the top names in the WTA. With the draw now complete, our preview looks ahead to action starting on Tuesday.

Iga Swiatek leads the field aiming to seal the double at the Sunshine Double and become only the second player after a certain Steffi Graf to complete the feat. She will be joined by Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, a returning Simona Halep as well as Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka and Caroline Wozniacki.

Iga Swiatek had a poor Australian Open losing to Linda Noskova who again she could face in the third round. But has since put that right with her only slip up as of late coming in Dubai albeit she lost to a very good Anna Kalinskaya who had the match of her life then lost to Jasmine Paolini so no shame at all in that.

But that has been the only part of her last few months aside from Melbourne that has fallen flat as she has barely lost a set since the Australian Open and once she frontruns, she is very much hard to stop. She thrashed a very good Maria Sakkari in the final of Indian Wells 6-4, 6-0 who will also look to back up her terrific return to form.

But Swiatek who had some doubts about whether or not she could keep her World No.1 spot has done that and also set herself apart from the rest as they somewhat flatter to deceive. Elena Rybakina has been ill after a superb part of the season. Once again for the Kazakh, it has been a blow after a high as she lead the tour in match wins. That mantle has now been taken by Emma Navarro but her and Jelena Ostapenko were the early trailblazers and since then have not produced. Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff even after great Australian Opens have not been at their best.

Sabalenka has lost to Donna Vekic and Emma Navarro in tough losses since Melbourne, while Gauff has shown glimmers of light but has struggled on her serve and has been points away from early exits in most tournaments including in Indian Wells against Clara Burel with Sakkari accounting for her in the end. Jessica Pegula also has been nowhere for a while and so it is very much Swiatek vs the field.

The main story though has to be Simona Halep who was handed a route to her first tournament back by tournament director, James Blake. He made sure to be in dialogue with one of her biggest supporters and ex-coach Darren Cahill to ascertain what form she is in before giving her the chance. But she has been given it.

She will play likely on the opening day against Paula Badosa with Aryna Sabalenka awaiting for the winner. Potentially Caroline Wozniacki awaits in the third round who herself is back fit and firing seemingly. Her, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka were three of the main winners in the WTA Rankings this past week and will look to continue that into Miami.

Emma Raducanu also with IMG running the tournament has a way in through her management as she continues to snub the lower level in order to just play big tournaments. But she will not defend any points really going forward so the only way is up for the former US Open champion and she could face Anna Kalinskaya in the second round. A real tantalising prospect for tennis fans. Also Venus Williams will be involved. The legendary American though faces a tough test in Diana Shnaider in what will likely again be another episode of does she deserve this wildcard. But one thing is for sure the action in Miami is bound to be one to remember.