Miami Open: 4 players with most singles titles
Since the launch of the tournament in the year 1985, when it was initially called the Lipton International Players Championship, the Miami Open has undergone several changes in its format as well as in its structure. It was once famously called the "Winter Wimbledon" as well.
As the 2019 edition of the tournament begins, here is a look at the four players who have won this tournament the highest number of times:
4. Steffi Graf - 5 titles
The first ever women's singles finals in 1985 was played between Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, with Navratilova defeating Evert 6-2, 6-4.
Steffi Graf was the runner-up in 1986 where she lost to Evert. But in the next year, Graf won the title by defeating Evert 6-1, 6-2.
One of the greatest players of all time, if not the greatest, Graf won the title four more times - in 1988, 1994, 1995, 1996 thus taking her count to 5.
3. Andre Agassi - 6 titles
Andre Agassi first won the Miami Open title in 1990, defeating Stefan Edberg in four sets. Five years later, in 1995, he defeated his most celebrated rival Pete Sampras in an epic three-set final.
A player who always rose from the ashes when it mattered, Agassi won 6 Miami Open titles (1990, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003), which was a record at the time of the American's retirement.
2) Novak Djokovic - 6 titles
Joining Andre Agassi in the list of most number of Miami titles is Novak Djokovic. The Serb defeated Kei Nishikori in the 2016 final to win his sixth Miami Open title and equal Agassi's mark.
Currently ranked number 1 in the world, Djokovic won the tournament in 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The most memorable victory among these was against Rafael Nadal in 2011 where Djokovic came from a set down 4-6 to beat him 6-3, 7-6 over the next two sets.
1) Serena Williams - 8 titles
Serena Williams has won the most number of titles at the Miami Open - eight. She last won this tournament in the year 2015, defeating Carlo Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-0 in the final.
Williams won her first Miami title in the year 2002 defeating Jennifer Capriati 7-5, 7-6. Since then, she has won the tournament in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014 and finally in 2015.