Miami Open: The particular story of a tournament that was dreamed in a truck in the 60s

The history of Miami Open It is undoubtedly one of the most particular ones that are recorded in the professional tennis circuit. Far from having conventional beginnings, one of the most important events that sport has and that brings together the best players in the world He was born as an idea six decades ago in a truck that walked the United States.

The architects of this madness were six of the most prominent tennis players that the planet had 60 years ago: Jack Kramer, Frank Sedgman, Ricardo “Pancho” González, Francisco “Pancho” Segura and Butch Buchholz. But what did these players touring one of the world’s largest countries in a simple home transport? The answer is very simple: the “eight handsome”.

That particular name was the one that this group of tennis players had, together with several more members, who competed in the “World Championship Tennis” by Lamar Hunt, introduced in 1968 and that it was the first great professional circuit of this sport at the end of the 60s. In that context, Buchholz He took off the group after his retirement in 1970 and began to devise that dream he had with his comrades above a van.

Some talks at the beginning of the 80s, when the already retired American was part of the ATP, began to shape what we know today as Miami Open. With a sponsors that contributed 1.5 million dollars a year for five seasons and the chosen enclosure (Laver’s International Tennis Resort in Delray Beach), the event had everything to start.

This tournament was, at first, called “Winter Wimbledon” Since it was going to be the first major tournament of the year considering that, at that time, the Australian Open was played in December. Besides, Buchholz contract Alan Mills (Wimbledon Umpir) as the main judge and the recognized Ted TinlingTennis fashion designer, as protocol director.

After 20 years feeding a dream, Miami gave the initial kick in the circuit (both ATP and WTA) in 1985. But, far from the imaginary that was had, the first edition was almost a failure. Only six out of ten top have participated, having very important casualties such as Path Cash, Andrés Gómez, Jimmy Connors and John Mcenroe. According to the “We are tennis” site in a recapitulation of the history of this tournament, former 1 at that time sincere his absence by saying: “It is stupidity to organize this event in full season covered and, in addition, it is too windy at this time of year in Florida.”

Although it seems strange, the wind was a fundamental factor in that first Miami tournament. “I had never played in such bad conditions. It seemed the end of the world. The tents for the press, the referees or the pickups were dragged by the wind. The sequence could be seen crackling and the lights oscillating from left to right” He told him in 1985 Chris Evert to L’Equipe.

And as if that were not enough, the series heads were falling to surprises. The male semifinals were disputed by Scott Davis, Tomas Smid, Jan Gunnarsson and Tim Mayotte while in the female there were names of greater weight as Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf (was just 16 years old) and Carling Bassett. In the girl’s final, there was no surprise: he definition was among the two best players in the world at that time. But among the boys, the situation was very different.

Far from the dream final (Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilanderwho were the two best preclassified of the tournament), The first definition of Miami Open was between two players who were outside the Top 30: Scott Davis and Tim Mayotte. The latter, being the first champion of the history of the tournament and playing one of the best definitions in history: 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and 6-4. A curiosity that the winner lived was that, only at the awards ceremony, he learned that his parents were in the gallery. “My father left the stadium when I lost two sets to zero to go see the game to a bar, quite close to the stadium. After some drinks, he began to tell everyone: ‘Look, that’s my son!'”

After that turbulent start, the Miami Open He had several removals: first to Boca West and then Key Biscane, in what was his location par excellence in his golden years between 1987 and 2018. As of 2019, the tournament is played in Miami Gardens, at the Hard Rock Stadium. And among the champions, a curiosity stands out: almost all, except for some exceptions (Mayotte, Miloslav Mecir, Marcelo Ríos, Nikolay Davydenko, John Isner, Hubert Hurkacz, Agnieszka Radwańska and Johanna Konta) were winners of Grand Slam tournaments. A showcase full of luxury winners.