Djokovic and Azarenka Looking to Defend Titles at 2012 Sony Ericsson Open

World number one-ranked Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus are both looking to defend their titles as opening round action at the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open gets underway today in Miami. Djokovic is looking to get back to his winning ways after a semifinal loss to American John Isner over the weekend at the 2012 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. Azarenka is looking to stretch her consecutive win streak to begin 2012, currently sitting at 23, and is coming off a finals win over number two-ranked Maria Sharapova in Indian Wells. 

Djokovic gets an early round bye in Miami and will take to the court Saturday to take on either Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer or Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis. Azarenka’s first match will be against either a qualifier or Michaella Krajicek from the Netherlands. 

Roger Federer of Switzerland, a winner this past Sunday in the finals of the 2012 BNP Paribas Open, awaits the winner of the opening round match between 19-year-old American Ryan Harrison or Italy’s Potito Starace. Federer comes into Miami the winner of 15 straight matches and is a two-time winner of the Sony Ericsson Open. World number two-ranked Rafael Nadal of Spain, who has never won the Sony Ericsson Open, will open match play against his fellow countryman Pablo Andujar or Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo.

Click here to view the entire Men’s Draw for the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open. 

On the women’s side of the draw, earning a first-round bye, Russian Maria Shapaova looks to improve upon her world number two ranking and will face Israel’s Shahar Peer in round two. World number three-ranked Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic had the worst luck of the draw, with a bye into round two against either Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm or American Venus Williams, a wild card entry and a three-time Sony Ericsson Open champion with seven Grand Slam singles titles under her belt. Venus’ sister Serena Williams, a five-time Miami women’s champion who has been out of action with an ankle sprain, will open action against either China’s Zhang Shaui or Britain’s Elena Baltacha. The number four seed, Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, will open against either a qualifier or Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

Click here to view the entire Women’s Draw for the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open.