Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Photo courtesy of the NOC of Belarus
MINSK, 18 March (BelTA) – The outdoor hard courts of Miami will host the first round matches of the WTA-1000 tournament with a prize fund of $9.4 million on 18 March, BelTA has learned.
Belarusian tennis player Aliaksandra Sasnovich (world No. 116) will face Spain’s Paula Badosa, who is just inside the top 100, in the first round (round of 128). Sasnovich holds a 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head record. The winner of today’s match will go on to face Iva Jovic of the USA (world No. 17) in the second round. Sasnovich secured her place in the main draw through qualifying, defeating Türkiye’s Ayla Aksu (No. 269) 6-4, 6-4, and Mexico’s Renata Zarazua (No. 90) 6-3, 6-4.
Also on 18 March, reigning Miami Open champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will find out her opponent for the second round (round of 64). She will face the winner of the match between American Ann Li (No. 39) and Australian Kimberly Birrell (No. 70). Last week, Sabalenka won the WTA-1000 title in Indian Wells for the first time, defeating Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in the final.
The winner of 2026 Miami Open will be decided on 29 March. The champion will earn over $1.1 million and 1,000 ranking points. In 2025, Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula of the USA 7-5, 6-2 in the final. Another Belarusian tennis player Victoria Azarenka has won this tournament three times: in 2009, 2011 and 2016.
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