Sports (USA), .- The rain prevented the competition program of the second day of the qualifying phase of the Miami Open tennis tournament could be played.
But in return a group of players had the opportunity to participate in various social and support activities within the Miami community.
Some of the figures supported worthy causes with the activities framed within the organization of the tournament known as Miami Open Unites, a day dedicated to helping the community.
The day of service was dedicated to giving back to the community of South Florida. The events were held at the Hard Rock Stadium, the new headquarters where the second tournament of the Masters 1000 Series of the season will be held, and in different places in the metropolitan area of Miami.
For example, the twin brothers, Americans Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, five times double champions, visited Baptist Health Children’s Hospital and Cancer Center to spend time with sick children who are admitted to specialized medical facilities.
“The children were very nice and optimistic, they had to live the unfortunate side of life and the way they face is inspiring,” Bob said. “It’s great to give them back something and if we can make their day a little bit better, it’s worth it for us.”
The German Alexander Zverev, the defending champion, the local John Isner and the Spanish Roberto Bautista Agut visited the Greater Humane Society of Miami, center of adoption of animals that are abandoned.
The players prepared the animals to increase their chances of adoption. The strategy worked when Zverev ended up adopting one of the puppies!
The Japanese Kei Nishikori, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Croatian Marin Cilic, the Australian Nick Kyrgios and the Chilean Nicolas Jarry ran a community tennis clinic and questions and answers at the Hard Rock Stadium for UNICEF’s Kid Power program.
Members of Marjory Stoneman’s men’s and women’s tennis team Douglas High School participated in the event, which also included discussions on how to overcome adversity and be a positive force in the community.
A high school shooting in February 2018 killed 17 students and faculty members of the school.
The Austrian Dominic Thiem, who on Sunday won the Indian Wells tournament, the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic and the Argentine Guido Pella helped repair a house by painting and conditioning the garden.
Their efforts supported the work of Rebuilding Together, an organization that repairs and rebuilds homes for the elderly, veterans and disabled of Miami-Dade County.
Finally, the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the Spanish David Ferrer and the Croatian Borna Coric served lunch to the residents who live in the shelter of the Mission of Rescue of Miami.
The organization provides food, shelter and programming to the needy residents of South Florida.
While there were all these social activities, on the tracks of Hard Rock Stadium could not compete with the constant rain that began to fall from the early hours of the morning.
After having waited until the beginning of the afternoon to see if the weather conditions changed over the Miami Gardens area, where the new tournament headquarters are located, in the end it was decided the complete cancellation of all the matches.
While the organizers confirmed that the people with the tickets bought for Tuesday as well as the parking passes will be validated for the day of Wednesday, when officially the inauguration ribbon of the facilities that have cost 60 million dollars will be cut (52, 8 million euros).
At the same time, all the matches of the qualifying phase that will define the 12 men and 12 women who make it to the main draw of the tournament were included in the schedule on Wednesday, and will begin to be played after 10 the morning, Eastern local time, when the competition of the first round will also begin.
The organizers of the tournament also have at 11 in the morning the ceremony of cutting the official opening ribbon of the new facilities that will take place on the main Stadium Court, which is inside the Hard Rock Stadium, where they regularly play. Miami Dolphins, the team that plays in the National Football League (NFL).
The tournament, considered the most important after the four Grand Slams, will be played on a hard surface and will distribute prizes worth 9.4 million dollars (8.2 million euros). (EFE)
