The Sony Ericsson Open is known for its flashy and unusual promotional events and remarkable photo ops. And now that sports-marketing giant IMG has ownership of the tournament, it is getting even more glamorous.
Each year, a select group of players is chosen to swim with the dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium, which is a common sight for players as they make their way across the bridge to Key Biscayne.
But that idea has apparently grown old so IMG took things to new heights, pairing key clients Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams to play tennis on an elevated glass swimming pool atop the new Gansevoort South Hotel in South Beach. The court was specially constructed within the 110 ft swimming pool on the hotel’s 22,000 square foot rooftop retreat to mark its grand opening. The process of building the court took seven days and required a specialized underwater team.
Rafa may be king of clay, but who knew he could walk on water?
“I love playing on all surfaces, but this was different and playing against Serena made it even more special. Playing a game on water was a first for me, and I also liked the setting here in Miami overlooking the ocean since I love the sea,” he told tournament organizers.
The two former Sony Ericsson Open champions had a hit on Monday afternoon, despite the fact that Nadal was fresh off of a red-eye flight from California. His private jet touched down in Miami in the early morning hours, but after a brief nap and lunch, he was ready to hit the court and the pool.
“It's always very nice to do something like this. Also very nice views from here in Miami. [I am] very happy to be here with Serena," Nadal reiterated to Tennis.com after the photo shoot.
The Spaniard also had some precious cargo on the plane, World No. 2, Ana Ivanovic. Playing the good Samaritan, Nadal offered the Serbian beauty a ride to the tournament when she had trouble finding a flight to Miami, a common problem when flying out of Palm Springs International Airport during the tennis event.
“I asked Ana Ivanovic and her team to join us. I knew she had some problems to find a ticket to Miami, she was on a waiting list and we had room left so I thought I could ask them to join us. I remember Roger gave me a ride from Montreal to Cincy last summer and I know how it feels to be stuck in a place when you want/have to leave to play the next tournament.
"I didn't know much Ana before that but now that I had the chance to meet her during the flight I think she is a very nice person, a really nice person. Also her mother and her physical trainer who all flew with us and it was very nice to meet them too.”