Miami Open washed out as relentless rain cancels all first-round matches
The Miami Open faced major disruptions on Wednesday as relentless rain forced officials to cancel all first-round matches. No play began throughout the day, with organisers finally calling off the schedule by 7 p.m. local time. The downpours left the stadium court at Hard Rock Stadium underwater, sparking worries over possible surface damage.
The weather in Florida shifted abruptly from warm, humid conditions to severe thunderstorms on March 19. Heavy rain, winds gusting up to 60 mph, and localised flooding halted play entirely. This extreme change mirrored past events, such as Hurricane Ian in 2022 and a 2024 subtropical storm that dumped 6.25 inches of rain in a single day.
Players scheduled for early matches, including Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Adrian Mannarino, were sent home by mid-afternoon. Others, like Alexandre Müller, waited hours for their night-session clash with Matteo Berrettini—only for it to be abandoned. The cancellation now risks creating a scheduling backlog, particularly with top seeds set to play on Friday.
The rainout has left tournament organisers scrambling to reschedule matches. Flooding on the main court raises concerns about potential delays and surface repairs. Officials will need to adjust the timetable quickly to avoid further setbacks for players and fans.
