Starting in 2019, Hard Rock Stadium will be the new home of the Miami Open—a two week tennis tournament in Southern Florida.
With a shovel in hand, Serena Williams, 36, participated in the breaking ground ceremony at the Miami Dolphin’s stadium on Monday.
She was alongside WME/IMG co-President Mark Sharpiro, the Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, and the Miami Open Tournament Director James Blake.
Can you dig it? Serena Williams participated in the breaking ground ceremony for the new Miami Open site on Monday afternoon
Heavy lifting! Serena, who was the only woman present at the monumental occasion, wore a flattering A-line sweater dress and a pair of Air Jordans
Serena, who was the only woman present at the monumental occasion, wore a flattering A-line sweater dress and a pair of Air Jordans.
The tennis pro had her hair down and in natural waves while her nails were pristinely painted a pale pink.
As she spoke to the room of influential men, Williams flashed her massive wedding ring.
Put together! The tennis pro had her hair down and in natural waves while her nails were pristinely painted a pale pink
Shovel party! Serena joined WME/IMG co-President Mark Sharpiro, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, and Miami Open Tournament Director James Blake for the ceremony
It was a different kind of ‘breaking ground’ ceremony that occurred on Monday afternoon due to the fact that the Hard Rock Stadium is also home to the Miami Dolphins football team.
The multi-purpose stadium, which recently went under a $500 million dollar renovation, will be transformed into a tennis arena for the Miami Open each year for two weeks.
There will be a total of 30 match courts and seating for more than 32,000 patrons.
‘We’ll have more practice courts, better facilities, better locker rooms, cutting edge video screens, more parking,’ tournament director James Blake told ESPN. ‘Every single aspect is going to be an upgrade.’
New era! The Hard Rock Stadium, which is also home to the Miami Dolphins football team, will be transformed into a tennis arena each year for the Miami Open
Williams ironically owns part of the Miami Dolphins. ‘She’ll probably be the first person to win a tennis tournament she owns,’ Dolphins majority owner Stephen Ross said jokingly in an interview with ESPN
Williams ironically has stake in the Miami Dolphins.
‘She’ll probably be the first person to win a tennis tournament she owns,’ Dolphins majority owner Stephen Ross said jokingly in an interview with ESPN.
But that’s not to say that Serena wasn’t disappointed to hear that the tournament was moving from its original venue—the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne.
Leaving behind memories: Serena was initially disappointed to hear that the tournament was moving from its original venue—the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne
‘When I heard they were going to move it, it literally broke my heart,’ she said. ‘I’m so happy this tournament is still going to be in Miami.’
‘When I heard they were going to move it, it literally broke my heart,’ she said to the sports media outlet. ‘I’m so happy this tournament is still going to be in Miami.’
The Michigan native has won the Miami Open a whopping eight times over the course of her career.
‘I feel like Key Biscayne had some wonderful memories, especially for me, so many iconic moments (have) happened there,’ she told Local 10 News. ‘And now I feel like it’s time to start new memories and new moments, and I feel it’s going to be just as great.’
What a champ! The Michigan native has won the Miami Open a whopping eight times