The Miami Open now plays in front of crowds on the grounds of Hard Rock Stadium.
But the tournament didn’t start there in Miami-Dade County.
A waterside tennis complex at Crandon Park near Key Biscayne served as the tournament’s home until 2019, when it signed a deal to move to the Miami Gardens stadium site.
The tournament was known as the Lipton at the site along the Rickenbacker Causeway spanning Biscayne Bay.
What did those early days look like?
Here’s an inside look through the Miami Herald photo archives:
THE FANS
In 1998 at the Lipton Championship near Key Biscayne, young tennis fans hold oversized tennis balls as they wait for Andre Agassi to autograph them.
In 1997, her at the first day of the Lipton Tennis Tournament at Key Biscayne. Downtown Miami is in the background.
Lipton Tennis signs were put over barriers at the Rickenbacker Causeway tollbooths in 1987.
THE STANDS
Lipton Tennis Tournament Chariman, Butch Buchholz at the new stadium at Key Biscayne in 1994.
Estelle Abelson of Ottawa, Canada, checks out the view from seats near the top of the Tennis Center at Crandon Park, during Select- A – Seat Day for the Lipton Championships in 1994.
In 1994, David Mathew carries a plank used for the bleachers on the top level of the stadium at the Lipton Tennis site. Workers were busy preparing near Key Biscayne.
Lipton Tennis Tournament chairmanB utch Buchholz at the new stadium at Key Biscayne in 1994.
In 1987, the Lipton tennis site off the Rickenbacker Causeway.
THE PLAYERS
Venus and Serena Williams in 1998 at the Lipton.
Patrick Rafter gives the thumbs up after he defeated Michael Chang at the Lipton in 1994.
In 1997 at the Lipton, Venus Williams returns a volley vs. Martina Hingis.
In 1999 at the Lipton, Jennifer Capriati celebrates after defeating Silvija Talaja in straight sets.
