Miami Open scheduling chaos halts and moves final mid-match

Miami Open officials have been forced to act after rain caused chaos with the schedule on the tournament's final day. Weather has been a persistent problem throughout the fortnight — an entire day of WTA qualifying was washed out a couple of weeks ago. Another rainout struck last Wednesday, with main-draw ATP and WTA matches cancelled and rescheduled. Further heavy rain significantly delayed play last Friday, with some matches relocated and others pushed back by a day.

The rain made an unwelcome return on the final day, striking right in the middle of the women's doubles final between the top two seeds. Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini were serving to force a first-set tiebreak against Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend on the main Stadium Court when the downpour arrived. Play was suspended, and all four players quickly vacated the court.

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However, the match will not be returning to Stadium Court, with the final relocated mid-match entirely. Play is set to resume on the Grandstand Court — the second-largest showcase court on the grounds — and was initially expected to restart at around 2.20 p.m. local time, approximately 40 minutes after the interruption.

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Tournament officials released a statement on social media confirming the new court assignment. "Match update: ERRANI/PAOLINI vs SINIAKOVA/TOWNSEND has been moved to the Grandstand Court, starting not before 2.20pm."

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Sky Sports commentator Naomi Cavaday explained that Miami Open officials were worried about additional rain delays in the coming hours and were eager to complete both the women's doubles and men's singles finals.

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"We can tell you the women's doubles final will be getting back underway, as you can see there, in about five minutes. But they have been moved to the Grandstand court, so as not to delay the men's singles final too much."

"I think that is a consideration because of the women's doubles final, but also because of the rain that is still around, sort of circling as you can see, in all different directions. It's looking fairly grey, so we might get a few more interruptions. But the women's doubles final will be getting back underway very, very soon."

As anticipated, however, the rain continued to be intermittent, and the men's singles final between Jannik Sinner and Jiri Lehecka, scheduled for no earlier than 3 p.m. local time, was also pushed back.

Organizers had hoped to resume the women's doubles at 3.30 p.m. local time, with the men's singles getting underway at 8.45 p.m. local time, but the skies opened up once again.

Further delays should come as little surprise given the grim forecast for the remainder of the day. No. 2 seed Sinner had already been bracing himself for scheduling disruptions.

Following his semi-final victory on Friday, the reigning 2024 champion acknowledged he had checked the forecast, yet remained cautiously optimistic.

"Let's see also the weather forecast. It's also not promising, but we hope for a day as dry as possible, and that we have a chance to play. No matter what happens now in the final, of course, I will give it the best shot," he said.

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