© 2012 Daily Tennis News Wire -
The tennis action continues to heat up on Friday, March 23, at the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open. During the day session, defending champion and undisputed World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka takes the court for her debut match in Miami, along with 2009 Sony Ericsson Open winner Andy Murray and former World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic. The Friday night card will offer fans their first glimpse of 10-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.

Coming into Miami on the strength of a 23-0 record so far this season and four titles, including her first Slam win at the Australian Open, Victoria Azarenka has earned her position as the dominant World No. 1. Her accomplishments in Miami are no less formidable, with a 14-1 record over the last three years, scoring titles in 2009 and 2011.

Champion on the men's side in 2009 and World No. 4 Andy Murray also premieres on Stadium Court on Friday.  Playing in his sixth Sony Ericsson Open, Murray will start his campaign against either Alejandro Falla of Columbia or Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan. 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic rides into Miami having advanced to the semi-finals last week in Indian Wells.  She will face the winner of the match between American Vania King and Spain's Laura Pous-Tio.

Friday's night session spotlights 10-time Grand Slam champ Rafael Nadal. Playing in his eighth Sony Ericsson Open, Nadal has not lost before the quarter-finals in his last five and was the finalist at the tournament in 2005, 2008, and 2011. He begins his crusade against either fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar or Santiago Giraldo of Colombia.