Rain suspended the Miami Open women’s doubles final at Hard Rock Stadium with Italian top seeds Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini holding a 40-0 advantage in the 12th game against second-seeded Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic and American Taylor Townsend. The match was halted with Siniakova and Townsend leading 6-5 in the first set, putting the Italians one point away from forcing a tiebreak.
The suspension occurred during a crucial moment as Errani was serving to stay in the set after the Italian pair had squandered three set points in the previous game. The four players immediately returned to the locker rooms as heavy rain continued to fall over the Miami venue. Tournament officials have not announced when play will resume, with the weather showing no signs of improvement.
The match began with both teams holding serve comfortably, with Townsend winning her opening service game at love and Paolini responding with an equally dominant hold. The first break of serve came in the fourth game when Errani and Paolini converted their opportunity at the deciding point after Siniakova sent a passing shot wide. However, the advantage was short-lived as Siniakova and Townsend immediately broke back to level the set at 2-2.
The turning point came in the 11th game when Errani and Paolini earned another break after Townsend committed a double fault at 30-30. The Italian duo had built a commanding 40-15 lead in that game before being pulled back to deuce, ultimately winning at the deciding point. With Paolini serving for the set at 5-4, the Italians appeared to have control with three set points, but their opponents showed remarkable resilience.
Siniakova and Townsend saved all three set points in dramatic fashion, with the Czech player canceling the first with a net smash and the American producing an exceptional reflex volley to deny the second. The game went to a deciding point where Paolini’s passing shot sailed wide after Siniakova’s response, allowing their opponents to break back and level the set at 5-5.
The weather interruption has also affected the tournament’s scheduling, with the men’s singles final between Jannik Sinner and Jiri Lehecka originally scheduled for later in the evening likely to be delayed. The doubles final represents a significant opportunity for both teams, with the Italian pair seeking to add another major title to their impressive partnership resume as the tournament’s top seeds.
When play resumes, Errani will continue serving from 40-0 in the 12th game, needing just one point to force a first-set tiebreak. The match has been characterized by high-quality tennis from both sides, with several games decided at crucial deciding points. The Italian duo’s experience in big matches will be tested as they attempt to close out the set after the lengthy rain delay.
The suspension adds another layer of complexity to what was already shaping up as a tightly contested final between two evenly matched teams. Both pairs have shown their ability to respond under pressure throughout the match, with immediate breaks followed by counter-breaks keeping the set competitive. The weather delay could potentially favor either team depending on how they handle the disruption to their rhythm and momentum.