Miami Open 2024: When does it start? When is the draw? Are Novak Djokovic, Simona Halep and Rafael Nadal playing?

The world’s top tennis stars will descend on Florida this month for the ATP/WTA 1000 Miami Open.

The tournament is the second part of the ‘Sunshine Double’ after Indian Wells, which started in early March.

Last year Elena Rybakina was a win away from completing the ‘Sunshine Double’, just falling short as she lost to Petra Kvitova in the Miami Open final. Daniil Medvedev won the men’s title in Miami as he beat Jannik Sinner in the final.

When does the Miami Open start? What time will play start in the UK? What’s the schedule? And who’s playing? Here’s everything you need to know about the Miami Open 2024…

Qualifying for the Miami Open starts on Sunday, March 17, the same day that the men’s and women’s singles finals take place at Indian Wells.

The women’s main draw starts on Tuesday, March 19 and the men’s main draw gets under way on Wednesday, March 20.

The finals will be held on the weekend of March 30.

Play will start each day at 3pm UK time, with night sessions kicking off at 11pm UK time.

The sessions on finals weekend will start at 4.30pm UK time.

• Sunday, March 17 – Women’s qualifying first round
• Monday, March 18 – Women’s qualifying second round, men’s qualifying first round
• Tuesday, March 19 – Women’s singles first round, men’s qualifying second round
• Wednesday, March 20 – Women’s and men’s singles first round
• Thursday, March 21 – Women’s singles second round, men’s singles first round
• Friday, March 22 – Women’s and men’s singles second round
• Saturday, March 23 – Women’s singles third round, men’s singles second round
• Sunday, March 24 – Women’s and men’s singles third round
• Monday, March 25 – Women’s singles fourth round, men’s singles third round
• Tuesday, March 26 – Women’s singles quarter-finals, men’s singles fourth round
• Wednesday, March 27 – Women’s and men’s singles quarter-finals
• Thursday, March 28 – Women’s singles semi-finals, men’s singles quarter-finals
• Friday, March 29 – Men’s singles semi-finals
• Saturday, March 30 – Women’s singles final, men’s double final
• Sunday, March 31 – Men’s singles final, women’s double final

The women’s draw will be on Sunday, March 17 and the men’s draw will be on Monday, March 18.

The tournament is played on outdoor hard courts at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek will headline the men’s and women’s singles draws at the Miami Open.

Djokovic will be playing the Miami Open for the first time 2019 and will be looking to win the tournament for a seventh time. He has not competed in Miami for the last few years due to being unable to travel to the US because he is unvaccinated.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev look set to be the leading contenders for the men’s title along with Djokovic.

“I don’t find myself ready to play at the highest level at such an important event,” said Nadal, who has only played three matches this season due to injury.

“It is not an easy decision, it’s a tough one as a matter of fact but I can’t lie to myself and lie to the thousands of fans.”

Nadal, who could be playing his last season on tour, hasn’t competed in Miami since 2017 and it seems likely he will concentrate his efforts on getting fit for the start of the clay season in April.

Andy Murray is set to play the Miami Open for the last time.

Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka will lead the women’s field while last year’s runner-up Elena Rybakina is hoping to be ready after missing Indian Wells.

World No. 3 Rybakina withdrew from Indian Wells hours ahead of starting her title defence due to illness.

Defending champion Petra Kvitova is not playing as she is pregnant. Belinda Bencic misses out for the same reason, and Karolina Muchova is out injured.

Former world No. 1 Halep has been cleared to return to tennis after her four-year doping ban was reduced to nine months following an appeal.

Miami will be Halep’s first tournament since the 2022 US Open.

Kei Nishikori, Venus Williams, Emma Raducanu and Caroline Wozniacki have been awarded wild cards.

For Nishikori it will be his first appearance since last July due to injuries.

Naomi Osaka will continue her comeback at the tournament where she made her last final in 2022. Both Osaka and fellow new mum Angelique Kerber will use their protected rankings to enter the main draw.

Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Jack Draper and Murray are set to lead the British players in the men’s field in Miami.

Murray is a two-time Miami winner but has only won one match at the tournament since 2016.

British No. 1 Katie Boulter is set to be seeded after her rise up the rankings following her San Diego Open victory.

Boulter was beaten in her opening match at Indian Wells but is in line to get a first-round bye in Miami as one of the 32 seeds.