Week #12-13 preview: Miami

Miami (USA), Premier, $4,500,000
The second mandatory Premier and combined ATP/WTA event is held in Miami, the most important tournament apart from the Grand Slams (it is often called the "5th Grand Slam"). All the top players will be there, although Maria Sharapova, still not fully recovered from her shoulder injury, will play only in the doubles draw. After skipping Indian Wells, the Williams sisters, will be the favourites for the title, especially WTA #1 Serena Williams, who showed her superiority in the Australian Open and will defend last year's title. They will have to fight against Russians and Serbians, with Dinara Safina, Jelena Jankovic, Elena Dementieva, Vera Zvonareva and Ana Ivanovic as the biggest threats. Also an eye should be kept on upcoming young talents such as Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. And again Dinara Safina and Serena Williams will compete for WTA #1, with Williams having to defend the points from her title last year.