Heading Back to 2018 – Miami Open Days
Alright, let me take you back a bit. It was 2018, and I got this idea to actually go see the Miami Open. Always watched it on TV, you know? But being there is a whole different thing. So, I decided, yeah, let’s do this.
First thing was getting tickets. Looked it up online, found some decent ground passes for a couple of days. Didn’t go for the super fancy stadium seats right away, wanted to walk around, soak it all in first. Plus, those ground passes let you see a ton of matches on the outer courts, which is pretty cool.
Getting Down to Key Biscayne
Remember, back then it was still at the old Crandon Park spot in Key Biscayne. Getting there was, well, an experience. Traffic could be a bit nuts heading onto the key, but managed it. Found parking, which always feels like winning a small lottery, right? Then the walk towards the entrance. You could start to feel the buzz even from the parking lot.
Walking in, the vibe was just great. Lots of people, sunny Florida weather (mostly!), and you could hear the pop of the tennis balls from different courts. It just felt exciting.
Wandering Around and Watching Tennis
Spent the first day just exploring. The layout was pretty spread out. Walked from court to court, catching bits of different matches. It’s wild how close you can get on some of those outer courts. You really see the speed and the power of these players.
- Saw some doubles action, which is always fun chaos.
- Caught a bit of practice sessions too. Seeing the big names just hitting balls, working on stuff.
- Grabbed some food – typical event prices, nothing shocking, but hey, you gotta eat. Had a burger, I think. And plenty of water, it gets hot!
One match I remember watching, I think it was Isner playing? Seeing those serves live is just insane. The sound, the speed – TV doesn’t do it justice. Stood there for a while just watching him blast serves.
Later, did manage to get into the main stadium for a bit. The view’s different, more of an overview, but the atmosphere for the bigger matches was electric. You get caught up in the crowd, the cheering. It’s just a good time.
Wrapping Up the Trip
Spent another day doing much of the same. More walking, more tennis, more soaking up the sun. It’s tiring, sure, walking around all day, but totally worth it. Seeing that level of tennis up close, feeling the energy of the event, it’s something I won’t forget.
Leaving Key Biscayne at the end of the day, kinda tired but happy. It was a great experience, that 2018 Miami Open. Glad I made the effort to go. Totally different from just watching on TV.
