PINECREST, Fla. — The Miami Open presented by Itaú returns to Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, with several professional tennis players ready to showcase their skills.
Darja Semenistaja, of Latvia; Aliaksandra Sasnovich, of Belarus; and Italy’s Martina Trevisan are practicing at Royal Palm Tennis Club in Pinecrest ahead of the Miami Open.
Ranked in the world’s top 120, Semenistaja returned to South Florida to play in the event.
Local 10’s Michaila Hightower spoke with Semenistaja, who said it is a “goal to play in this kind of tournament.”
“I’ve been having two sessions per day -- fitness, just basic stuff we’re used to,” Semenistaja said. “Nothing is impossible. You just have to work very hard.”
She isn’t the only one training in Pinecrest.
On a nearby court, Sasnovich, another top-120 player, is getting in as much work as possible.
When asked what she tells herself in moments of intense pressure, Sasnovich kept it short and simple.
“Sasha, you’re almost 32 years old. Be calm, please,” she said.
The same goes for Trevisan, a former French Open semifinalist.
Every training session is critical, especially if a player is coming off a loss in a previous tournament.
“I think a lot of the players really like coming here. It’s a nice, relaxed setting and a beautiful facility,” said Royal Palm Tennis Club director Eric Hechtman.
The Miami Open runs through March 29. More information is available here.
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