Djokovic, Serena lead injury-hit Miami lineup

MIAMI (AFP): World number ones Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams head the fields at the Miami Masters hardcourt event that begins on Tuesday, although several big names will be missing.

Rafael Nadal, who secured the Indian Wells title on Sunday for his third title since his comeback from nagging knee injuries, and Swiss World No. 2 Roger Federer are absent on the men’s side, which features 45 of the world’s 50 top players. Injured World No. 10 Samantha Stosur of Australia is missing on the women’s side, having suffered a right calf injury that forced her to drop out of her quarter-final at Indian Wells.

Djokovic will try to claim his fourth Miami title while Williams attempts to take her sixth career crown at the $8.5 million tournament, which provides first-round byes to seeded players.

Williams will play her first event since reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking at Dubai, where she reached the final.

Serbian star Djokovic lost to Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro in the Indian Wells semi-finals, ending his 22-match winning streak in a run that included a fourth Australian Open title, his sixth career Grand Slam crown.