“I’ve had a lot of practice time and I’m excited to be here,” Andy commented in his pre-tournament interview with Sony Ericsson. Stepping into the hottest town in style, temperature, and entertainment, Andy’s ready to fire in Miami for the second Masters Event of the year, the Sony Ericsson Open. Andy will be unleashing the heat on his first opponent, Serbian qualifier Viktor Troicki, second on after 1pm on Stadium Court today.

For the 22-year-old qualifier who defeated Victor Hanescu in straight sets to meet our American Firepower face-to-face, this is his first time stepping onto the Laykold Cushion Plus hardcoat here in Miami. Beginning his career a few months ago on New Year’s Eve, the Serbian surged up to number 86 in the world with a semifinal showing in Belgrage, though he currently holds the 120th ranking. Troicki boasts this is his favorite surface, though, and his favorite shot is his serve, two similar traits to our “hometown hero”, so this will be a match of wailing racquets and quick feet.

“This is my ninth year here, it was the second tournament I ever played in, and hopefully the fans will be behind me,” Andy stated in his interview. Andy’s previous success here in Miami, claiming the 2004 title, and current excitement about the Sony Ericsson has the fans buying tickets, making signs and banner, and rearranging their schedules to be glued to the live action on TV. Fox Sports Network, FSN on your guide, and CBS are the proud stations to grace our screens with all of the action in Miami until April 6th.

With the atmosphere and the entertainment being hot, hot, hot, the Sony Ericcson Open has a cool $7.5 million in prize money to award to both ATP and WTA players. This event is the only 12-day combined tour event besides the four grand slams, having coined the name “The Fifth Grand Slam”. Last year was a record breaking year in attendance, and this year has already rewritten a page in the books with the highest single session attendance of 13,911 on opening day. Keep coming, fans, let’s rewrite the whole thing!

Stay tuned to AR.com as Andy will be bringing the heat today second on after 1pm in the 13,300 seat Stadium Court at the Crandon Park facility, it’s home since 1987. With Lacoste on his back and Babolat supplying his “weapon”, let the games begin. Go Andy!