Former world No.1 Serena Williams has confirmed that she will not be playing in the Miami Open in what is the latest blow for the mixed event.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion has confirmed to the Miami Herald that she will not be playing after undergoing ‘oral surgery.’ Details of the procedure were not disclosed in her announcement. Williams is an eight-time champion in Miami and has won the tournament more times than any other player in history. Although her most recent triumph was back in 2015.
“I’m disappointed to withdraw from the Miami Open because of recent oral surgery,” Williams told the Miami Herald.
“Miami is a special tournament for me because it’s my home. I am sad I won’t be able to see the incredible fans this year, but I look forward to coming back soon.”
Williams hasn’t played on the Tour since her semi-final loss to Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open. Following the match a tearful 39-year-old was quizzed about her future in the sport to which she said “If I ever say farewell, I wouldn’t tell anyone” before shutting down her press conference shortly after. However, since then her coach Patrick Mouratoglou has dismissed talk about retirement.
“I don’t think she will stop until she at least wins a Grand Slam, because she came back to win Grand Slams,” Mouratoglou told PEOPLE Magazine on February 21st.
“She doesn’t quit.” He added.
Williams joins a growing list of notable absentees from this year’s Miami Open which is the second biggest tournament of the season so far after the Australian Open. Novak Djokovic isn’t playing because he wants to spend more time with his family, Roger Federer has opted to conduct a training block and Dominic Thiem has withdrawn to ‘fully recover’ for the clay swing. Other withdrawals include Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Borna Coric.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is set to be the second seed in the men’s draw, recently admitted that he has ‘low expectations’ about playing in the event. Telling reporters that he fears ‘it won’t be as good as previous years’ due to the restrictions related to COVID-19.
“Honestly I like Miami as a tournament, but I feel, I won’t hide anything from you, I feel it won’t be as good as the previous years and I feel it won’t be as good as Acapulco this week,” Tsitsipas said following his loss in the final of the Mexican Open on Sunday. “I find it very difficult to believe. So I go there with low expectations, not expecting much from the tournament itself.“
On the other hand, Germany’s Alexander Zverev believes that the absence of the Big Three will not have an impact on the quality of the men’s tournament.
“Miami is definitely a tournament where I think a lot of players are looking for opportunities and chances. But we still have great players there. We still have Medvedev, we still have Tsitsipas so there are still a lot of great players there to beat. You can’t say that just because those three are not there it is going to be an easy tournament for anyone,” he said.
The Miami Open is categorised as a WTA Premier Mandatory event and ATP Masters 1000 event.
