By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Photo credit: Miami Open/Hard Rock Stadium
The Miami Open is rolling out the red carpet for two beloved former champions.
The reigning champion, Petra Kvitova, along with the 2018 champion and native Floridian, Sloane Stephens, headline the list of wild card recipients for the 2025 Miami Open women’s main draw, as announced by the tournament today.
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Scheduled for March 16-30 at the iconic Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Open presented by Itaú promises thrilling action.
The celebrated two-time Wimbledon champion, Kvitova, joins the talented Ajla Tomljanovic, Tyra Grant, Alexandra Eala, Victoria Mboko, and Sayaka Ishii in receiving coveted wild cards to compete in the women’s division.
On the men’s side, 19-year-old sensation Learner Tien, who has notched two victories this season against Top 5 opponents, is joined by Christopher Eubanks, Eliot Spizzirri, Federico Cina, and Wu Yibing.
Tien made headlines by defeating former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev during the Australian Open in January and followed that up by dominating world No. 2 Alexander Zverev in Acapulco last week.
The upcoming Miami Open will mark Kvitova’s third tournament since welcoming her son, Petr, into the world seven months ago. With 31 titles to her name, she will be making her 14th appearance in Miami.
In her previous Miami appearance, Kvitova, then 33, triumphed against Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina with a score of 7-6(14), 6-2, becoming the second-oldest women’s champion in history at this prestigious event, following Serena Williams, who was 33 when she lifted the trophy in 2015.
30th career singles title 🏆
1st Miami Open title 🌴 @Petra_Kvitova halts Rybakina’s streak, 7-6(14), 6-2!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/A5cZ5FUCmm
— wta (@WTA) April 1, 2023
“Winning a final like I did today is the best feeling one can experience,” Kvitova shared. “That’s what I love the most—the thrill of victory.”
This legendary athlete has joined the ranks of Serena Williams and Chrissie Evert as the only women who have reached the Miami final after turning 33. Among active players, only Venus Williams holds more tournament titles with 49, while Kvitova now boasts a finals record of 30-11.
The remaining WTA wild cards have been awarded to a new generation of talents.
Eala, just 19 and hailing from the Philippines, claimed the title at the 2022 US Open juniors and has won two doubles titles at Grand Slam junior events.
Mboko, 18, represents Canada, having already snatched seven professional titles and peaked at No. 6 in the junior rankings.
Grant, an American set to turn 17 next week, was ranked as high as No. 2 among juniors and boasts three junior doubles Grand Slam titles.
Finally, Ishii, a 19-year-old from Japan, previously achieved a ranking of No. 5 in junior competitions.
Tien has powered through the quarterfinals in two of his last five Tour events, complemented by a strong Round of 16 finish at the Australian Open. A two-time US 18s hard court champion, he amassed seven professional titles during the 2024 season.
