Miami To Host Early Winter Exhibition

Written by: Staff on 18th October 2012

Miami To Host Early Winter Exhibition

epa03385111 Andy Roddick of the US hits a return to Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina during their fourth round match on the tenth day of the 2012 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2012. The US Open runs through Sunday 09 September 2012. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

It’s not enough for Miami to have its own massive ATP-WTA event which swallows up a fortnight during March. Now organizers in the city will also host an exhibition which looks to be serving as a bonus payday for a pair of retired ATP names.

The 2012 Miami Tennis Cup is being touted with a website and an invitation to ticket buyers not to delay for the November 30-December 1 hit-and-giggle.

On hand are expected to be just-retired Andy Roddick and his equally non-playing former rival Juan Carlos Ferrero, another player who called it a day on the ATP in recent weeks. That pair contested the 2003 US open final, the last Grand Slam won by an American as Roddick took the trophy.

The rest of the six-man round-robin field is skewed to the predominantly Latin audience of the area, with Spain’s Nicolas Almagro and Alejandro Falla of Colombia included. The remainder: Andy Murray, who makes Miami his winter training base and American John Isner.

The format is designed to highlight a proposed revamp of the Crandon Park venue which hosts the Masters in March. Play will be double elimination and the off-court emphasis will be on partying for the public.

The unique selling point would appear to be the first white court to be used in the game. Up to a sell-out 7,000 spectators per day are expected and television coverage is assured by one of the ESPN channels.

Topics: Andy Roddick, Atp, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Miami Tennis Cup, Sports, tennis exhibition, Tennis News