Iga Swiatek, the champion of 2022, was first on the Miami Open entry list when it was revealed on Wednesday that entries for the main draw would be accepted directly. The second of two consecutive WTA 1000 events, which will be held in March on US hard courts, will feature some of the biggest stars on the WTA Tour. Because World No. 18 Petra Kvitova, the 2023 winner, did not make the first acceptance list after announcing her pregnancy on New Year’s Day, Hard Rock Stadium will not see a back-to-back champion in 2024.
Kvitova defeated Elena Rybakina 7-6(14), 6-2 in last year’s final, and the fourth-ranked Kazakh will compete at Hard Rock Stadium alongside 2022 champion and World No.1 Swiatek and reigning Australian Open champion and World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka.
World No. 3 Coco Gauff and World No.5 Jessica Pegula are the defending doubles winners, defeating Leylah Fernandez and Taylor Townsend 12 months ago.
Three-time singles champion Victoria Azarenka and 2018 winner Sloane Stephens have also been accepted into the main draw, as have 2018 finalist Jelena Ostapenko, 2019 runner-up Karolina Pliskova, and 2022 finalist Naomi Osaka, who is entered on a protected ranking following her maternity break in 2023.
Despite qualifying by ranking, Belinda Bencic, who is presently ranked No. 44, is also absent from the lineup; she, like Kvitova, is expecting her first child this year. Currently holding the final direct entry into the women’s main draw is Yuan Yue of China, who is ranked 69th in the world.
