Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek will defend their Masters 1000 titles in Miami, and there are several questions hitting and waiting for an answer from the stars of the circuit. Two names above all on the men’s tour, everyone is waiting to find out if Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will be at the event and there is great anticipation for it. In the last few hours, the entry list for the Miami Masters 1000 has been officially announced and both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are on it. Small positive signs, at least for the latter, with a view to a possible participation in the tournament. It must be remembered that the entry list is automatic and the only way not to be on it is to cancel it beforehand, which Djokovic and Nadal have not done. According to reports, Novak awaits an exemption, a possibility that would allow the tennis player to participate in the tournament, but at the moment there are no official indications in this regard. The situation is different for Rafael Nadal: no one knows the true recovery time of the Spaniard, which, if compared to a normal injury (6-8 weeks), it is unlikely that we will see Rafa on the North American tour. If he does not participate in the American tournaments, Nadal could resoundingly leave the world Top Ten, a situation that has not occurred since April 2005. Also surprising among the absentees is the absence of Dominic Thiem, who at this point expects a wild card to participate in the tournament.
Djokovic only focussed on being healthy
Carlos Alcaraz was the man Novak Djokovic replaced at the top of the ATP rankings after his title run at the 2023 Australian Open. “Alcaraz deserved the number one spot and the Grand Slam title, I have nothing but words of praise for him both on and off the court,” he said. “Explosive, constantly improving, can play at the highest level on all surfaces, great team led by Ferrero. First place is not an absolute priority for me. I always strive for it, but for several years now I have looked at it only as a consequence of good results,” Djokovic said. “The priority is to stay healthy and be in tune with myself on and off the field. Then I know I can win any tournament”. The first part of the season is already in full swing and after the Australian Open and the month of February (with a series of ATP 250 and 500 tournaments) the circuit is preparing for the always-awaited “Sunshine Double”, the pair of tournaments on American cement that will star in the Masters 1000 of Indian Wells and Miami.
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