Miami Open: Not Rain but Man-Made Error Turns Disastrous for Event as Victoria Azarenka’s Match Put on Hold in Bizarre Scenes

Miami Open 2024 has descended into chaos this year. From incessant rains delaying matches to Casper Ruud’s complaints of lack of essentials, which James Blake downplayed, no one expected the Sunshine Double to bring a cloud of darkness to Magic City. As Victoria Azarenka and Yulia Putintseva stepped onto the court for an exciting quarterfinal, lo and behold, power went out.

Now a power outage may not seem to have much control over a tennis match being played outside in the daytime. But apparently, without any electricity backup, Hawkeye is also down, which has halted play in the main stadium.

Victoria Azarenka could be later seen leaving the court in frustration and fans also took to X to express open disregard for the way the Miami Open is going this year.

One wrote about the ‘farcical’ turn of events because of endless mistakes.

One fan went as far as calling the tournament ‘cursed.’

Another pointed out how the organizers ‘should liquidate’ because of multiple issues.

One called out ‘poor event management’ for the Miami Open because no power backup seems illogical in the 21st century.

One fan posted the Miami Open’s official statement on display at the court, where they said ‘Play will resume shortly.’

Three games had already taken place on Tuesday when the incident occurred, making it at least a 45-minute delay. Barbs have been directed at the management, some of them to do with the change in the arena. While it was understood that Key Biscayne needed upgrades that a 2015 court decision prevented, not everyone was sure of Miami Gardens.

Roger Federer on the “Fifth Grand Slam” aka Key Biscayne

The proximity to the beach, full stadiums, and great weather – Miami has always been a popular place for tennis. Set across the beach, Key Biscayne was a favorite for players as well as fans, who came in hoards to attend the Miami Open. Roger Federer, who first played on Key Biscayne as a junior in 1998, said, “It was a great event, a lot of history. You know, it was considered the fifth slam back in the day.”

But desperately needed changes and no one to make them resulted in a move 18 miles north to Miami Gardens, home of the Miami Dolphins. Tennis on a football field? It seemed almost impossible, but a hard court was put on the field and since 2019, the Miami Open has been held here.

Although many were cautious about the change, it was understood why it was necessary as well – until now. The 2024 version has raised nothing but criticism from every corner of the internet, and even players are not happy. Technology, it seems, is not always a saving grace.

READ MORE – Miami Open 2024: Victoria Azarenka vs Yulia Putintseva; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction