MIAMI, FL – Sinja Kraus of Austria has successfully navigated the qualifying rounds of the 2026 Miami Open presented by Itaú, securing her place in the main draw. The WTA 1000 event, taking place March 16-29, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, will see Kraus compete against Germany’s Ella Seidel. This qualification comes after a strong showing in the qualifying tournament, highlighted by wins over Lola Radivojevic and Darja Semenistaja.
Kraus’s journey began with a hard-fought victory against Serbia’s Lola Radivojevic. The match, played on March 15, 2026, at Court 4, ended with a score of 7-6(4), 6-3, according to Sofascore. She then followed that up with a decisive win over Latvia’s Darja Semenistaja, taking the match 6-2, 6-3. These victories demonstrate Kraus’s current form and ability to perform under pressure on the international stage.
The Miami Open is a premier event on the WTA Tour, attracting top players from around the globe. For Kraus, reaching the main draw represents a significant achievement and an opportunity to test her skills against some of the world’s best. The tournament, featuring both women’s and men’s singles and doubles, is a key warm-up event leading into the clay court season.
Also competing in Miami will be Lilli Tagger of Austria, who received a wildcard entry, similar to her participation in Indian Wells. Tagger will face Alycia Parks of the United States, another qualifier, in the first round. The presence of both Austrian players adds to the international flavor of the tournament.
Grabher Remains in Vienna After WTA Miscommunication
However, not all Austrian players were able to make it to Miami. Julia Grabher was initially slated to participate but remained in Vienna due to a miscommunication from the WTA. According to her coach, Günter Bresnik, Grabher was placed on the qualifying list but was not informed of her acceptance into the draw.
“This frustrates me more than Antalya, where she missed two of three tournaments due to injury,” Bresnik told the APA, as reported by laola1.at. This oversight resulted in a missed opportunity for Grabher to compete in a significant tournament and gain valuable ranking points.
Grabher will now focus on the upcoming 500-level event in Linz, Austria, scheduled to begin around Easter weekend. This home tournament will provide her with another chance to showcase her talent and compete at a high level. The Linz event offers a different opportunity for Grabher to build momentum and prepare for the remainder of the season.
The Miami Open qualifying rounds saw several other notable results. Maddison Inglis defeated Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 7-7, while Mary Stoiana retired against Kaja Juvan with a score of 6-4, 0-3. Caroline Dolehide overcame Nikola Bartunkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Viktorija Golubic defeated Thea Frodin 2-6, 6-6, and Ella Seidel triumphed over Marina Stakusic 6-7, 4-5. Further down the draw, Lucrezia Stefanini beat Diane Parry 2-6, 5-6, Whitney Osuigwe defeated Donna Vekic 4-2, 6-6, and Marina Melnikova overcame Elvina Kalieva 4-2, 6-6. Lulu Sun won against Maria Timofeeva 6-7, 7-4, Storm Hunter defeated Rebeka Masarova 2-6, 2-6, Renata Zarazua beat Martina Trevisan 4-6, 6-3, and Bianca Andreescu won against Suzan Lamens 4-6, 7-6. Anastasia Zakharova defeated Louisa Chirico 6-6, 2-1, Erika Andreeva overcame Rebecca Sramkova 4-2, 6-6, Ayla Aksu beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 4-4, 6-6, Kimberly Birrell defeated Viktoriya Tomova 6-6, 3-2, Reese Brantmeier won against Yuan Yue 7-8, 4-6, Ekaterine Gorgodze beat Talia Gibson 3-2, 6-6, Kamilla Rakhimova defeated Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 7-6, Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva won against Varvara Lepchenko 2-6, 1-6, Katie Volynets defeated Priscilla Hon 6-6, 2-6, Madison Brengle overcame Linda Fruhvirtova 4-7, 7-3, and Mary Stoiana defeated Yuliia Starodubtseva 2-2.
The Miami Open continues to be a significant event on the tennis calendar, offering fans exciting matches and showcasing the talent of both established stars and rising players like Sinja Kraus. The tournament’s location in Miami provides a vibrant atmosphere and attracts a diverse audience, making it a must-watch event for tennis enthusiasts worldwide.
Kraus’s next match will be against Ella Seidel. Fans can follow the Miami Open action on the official WTA Tour website and through various sports news outlets. The tournament promises to deliver thrilling competition and memorable moments as players battle for ranking points and championship glory.
