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Kerber: A Little Bit Sad


Count Angelique Kerber among the players who will miss Key Biscayne.

The Miami Open ends its 32-year run at Key Biscayne's Crandon Park next month.

Watch: Miami Live Blog

Next year, the Miami Open will move about 20 miles north to the Hard Rock Stadium home of the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens.

Kerber expressed mixed emotions over the move.

"Key Biscayne it was always like a really traditional tournament," Kerber said. "I remember when I was young and I came here also to the Orange Bowl and I came here to visit the venue.

"So it is of course, yeah, a little bit sad, but we will see. I mean, I'm sure that the other venue will be great, will be amazing, as well. I'm really looking forward to playing next year there, but, yeah, I mean, the traditional Key Biscayne is of course here, but we will see. I'm really excited actually how it is to playing there."



Roger Federer, who has played Crandon Park since his junior days when he contested the Orange Bowl, said he's sorry to see the tournament move.

"Yeah, it's definitely going to be very different, you know, when it moves," Federer said. "Obviously got to give it a few years to really be able to tell, but I hope it's going to be good, especially for the fans and especially for the people to attend and you guys and everybody, the players. I'm sure they will find a way, and I hope it's going to be a wonderful event and that we look back 30 years from now and say, like, Thank God we made this move.

"Right now, yeah, it doesn't feel great to move away from Key Biscayne, to be honest, but they must have their reasons. And as players we have to respect those. We are not the ones calling the shots."

Juan Martin del Potro, who often practices at Crandon Park during the offseason, said he'll miss the Key Biscayne site but is confident the new home will be a major improvement.

"I like the tournament. It's very easy to me, because I am staying very close to the stadium," del Potro said. "I like to see Argentinian fans around the courts, Latino-American people, also, and the facilities for players are great, so that's all the things make a good tournament. I will miss this tournament, playing on Key Biscayne next year, but I think it could be even better in the new place."


 

🎶 Just keep smiling, just keep smiling 🎶

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Del Potro is so comfortable amid Miami's large Argentinian population, he's become a supermarket fixture for fans.

"I spend a lot of time with the fans during my practice sessions, and then off court I meet them every time," del Potro said. "And I also walk around the streets every day. I like to go to the supermarket and I meet fans there too. You know, Miami has a big Argentinian, how you say, society, living here in Miami, so I meet them everywhere."

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

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