MIAMI TENNIS NEWS , LOTS GOING ON COME SEE THE WORLDS BEST MINUS ROGER FEDERER

Written by: Staff on 24th March 2015

Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, in Miami, Florida

Children try to high five 2.08-meter tall tennis player John Isner of the United States during Lexus Kids' Day at the Miami Open tennis tournament at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on Key Biscayne in Miami, Florida, USA, 24 March 2015. The tournament continues through 05 April 2015. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

epa04677354 Children try to high five 2.08-meter tall tennis player John Isner of the United States during Lexus Kids' Day at the Miami Open tennis tournament at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on Key Biscayne in Miami, Florida, USA, 24 March 2015. The tournament continues through 05 April 2015. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

Lexus Kids’ Day

Lexus Kid’s Day at the Miami Open kicked off an exciting day of events. Kids of every age participated in a variety of fun activities on Grandstand. Coach Nick Bolliterri served as the MC and two-time Grand Slam champ Victoria Azarenka and American John Isner gave the kids useful tips on how to improve their tennis skills and overall game.

Children try to high five 2.08-meter tall tennis player John Isner of the United States during Lexus Kids’ Day at the Miami Open tennis tournament at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on Key Biscayne in Miami, Florida, USA, 24 March 2015. The tournament continues through 05 April 2015. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

Miami Open Media Day

The first Miami Open Media Day was a complete success. This was the first combined Media Day with both the WTA and ATP Tours.

Fan favorite, Maria Sharapova shared with the press how much she loves’s coming to Miami and playing in the Miami Open. World No. 3 Simona Halep, fresh off the trail from her title win at Indian Wells, participated in Media Day as well. After interviewing, Halep took pictures with fans and signed autographs. Players Ana Ivanovic, Andy Murray, John Isner, Ekaterina Makarova, Stan Wawrinka, Agnieszka Radwanska, Genie Bouchard and Rafael Nadal all spoke at Media Day.

Swimming with the Dolphins

WTA pro Lauren Davis crossed another item off her bucket list after joining 13 other tennis pros in swimming with the dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium’s Dolphin Cove on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s always been on my bucket list and I’ve been really excited about this for the last few days,” said Davis, a five-year WTA pro who resides in Boca Raton. “It was everything I thought it would be.”

Former world No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro, easily the most targeted player by the media following the 30-minute swim, was joined by fellow ATP stars Americans Steve Johnson, Ryan Harrison and Sam Querrey, as well as world No. 12 Feliciano Lopez and veteran doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic.

Tennis player Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina meets a dolphin at the Miami Seaquarium before playing in the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 24 March 2015. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

The WTA’s Alison Riske, Alize Cornet, Monica Puig, Sabine Lisicki, Andrea Hlavackova, Elina Svitolina and Lucie Hradecka also participated in the Dolphin Encounter with Davis on Tuesday.

The players were entertained in the pool by a trio of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, including brothers Ripley and Abacoe, and Echo.

The dolphins performed jumps and flips, and offered the players kisses, pool-length rides and handshakes. The players were able to view the dolphins underwater with masks and snorkels, and fed their new friends.

Querrey and Johnson, the No. 2 and 3-ranked Americans, both enjoyed the 30-minute experience.

“There was a big group of us and it was fun, and I learned a lot about them,” said Querrey. Added Johnson, “It was my first time swimming with the dolphins. Hopefully I’ll be able to do it again.”

Davis’ favorite memory? “Being able to kiss one of them, and then grab their fin and swim across the pool,” she said.

ATTENDANCE: 10,065

Date Sesssion 2015

Attendance
2014

Attendance

Diff (From ’14)

Cum. Diff. (from ’14

Session Record (year)

23-Mar

1

8,568
8,406
162

162

8,568 (2015)

24-Mar

2

10,065

10,573

508

346

10,995 (2010)

Total 18,633