Miami tosses wildcard lifeline to three big names

The Miami Masters reached back into the archives with a wild card entry for three-time winner Venus Williams with former Grand Slam champions Caroline Wozniacki and Emma Raducanu also benefitting.

Williams 43, now qualifies as a part-timer, with her last appearance on court a first-round loss at the US Open six months ago.

She last reached the second round of a Tour event in 2019 with a grass quarter final in Birmingham nearly half a decade ago.

Williams has always considered Miami a home event, winning the last of her three titles well over two decades ago in 2002.

Wozniacki, who retired from tennis to start a family and is now a mother of two, has been attempting a comeback at age 33 since last summer. The Dane reached the 2017 final and last competed here in the 2019 fourth round.

The 21-year-old Raducanu has fallen flat since a US Open title from a qualifying start in 2021, with the Briton and her family team notorious for changing coaches after only a few months on the job.

No. 252 Raducanu is also aiming at a comeback after missing half of 2023 with injury. 

She last played the event a year ago, exiting in the first round on her second Miami appearance.

She stands 3-5 this season, reaching the second round in Auckland, Melbourne and Abu Dhabi, here last time on court earlier this month.

Main photo:- US Open 2023 Wildcard Venus Williams wearing shocking pink “night attire” lost first round match 6-1 6-1 in just one hour 13 minutes. by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Halep seething over Swiatek wrist-slap doping penalty

Doping sanction victim Simona Halep has gone online to protest her own treatment by anti-doping…

3 weeks ago

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

1 month ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

1 month ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

1 month ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

1 month ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

2 months ago