The 2026 Miami Open began with an unexpected disruption as severe weather forced officials to cancel Sunday’s qualifying matches and practice sessions, impacting stars Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms sweeping through the Miami-Dade area left courts unplayable for much of the day on Mar. 15. With the outer courts at Hard Rock Stadium exposed to the elements, organizers ultimately had little choice but to wipe out the entire slate of matches and training sessions and shift the start of play to the following morning.
Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka Among Stars Affected by Miami Open Opening Day Washout
The Miami Open traditionally begins with a packed qualifying schedule before the main draw gets underway, and the first day often sets the rhythm for the rest of the tournament. This year, Mar. 15 had been promoted as a “Free Opening Day,” giving fans the chance to watch qualifying matches and practice sessions at no cost.
The schedule initially featured 24 women’s qualifying matches spread across seven courts, along with practice blocks for several top players already in the main draw. Instead of an energetic kickoff, persistent rainfall and thunderstorms across South Florida led to delays that eventually forced officials to abandon the entire day of play.
Weather alerts issued by the National Weather Service warned of bands of showers, with embedded thunderstorms, drifting into the Miami-Dade region beginning late in the morning. By early afternoon, the conditions had deteriorated to the point that outdoor courts were deemed unsafe for play.
Tournament officials initially attempted to keep the schedule flexible, listing several matches as “To Be Finished” in hopes that the weather would improve later in the day. However, the rain never relented.
A number of high-profile qualifying matchups were either delayed or suspended, including Whitney Osuigwe’s meeting with Donna Vekic and Renata Zarazua’s clash with Martina Trevisan.
In total, nearly half of the scheduled slate was either postponed before a ball was struck or left unfinished, creating a packed “double-header” scenario for the next day. The cancellation also meant that practice sessions for players like Gauff and Sabalenka were wiped out entirely, as the grounds remained closed to training.
What Update Did Tournament Officials Share After Sunday’s Washout?
The tournament confirmed the decision publicly through its official social media channels. In a weather update shared on X on Sunday, March 15, the Miami Open account wrote: “Due to inclement weather, all qualifying matches and practices have been cancelled for Sunday 3/15. Match play will begin on Monday 3/16 at 10 am.”
The revised schedule moved Monday’s start time earlier to accommodate the completion of the first round of qualifying and the final qualifying matches on the same day. That adjustment also delayed confirmation of the 12 qualifying spots in the women’s main draw, leaving several sections of the bracket marked with placeholder entries during the draw ceremony.
With the main draw scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 17, players and fans alike will be hoping the skies over Miami cooperate.
