Crocodiles, Influencers, and Tennis Pros: Club Lacoste Takes the Miami Open

Every March, the tennis world turns its collective attention to the coast of Florida for the Miami Open and this year, Club Lacoste is taking over. When they asked if our art director Jack Vhay wanted the chance to rub elbows with some of the top players on tour, he was game. Below, he takes us on a tour of one of the splashiest tournaments on the calendar, from the sands of The Miami Beach EDITION to the cyan courts of Hard Rock Stadium, plus a late night stop at Twist for good measure.

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DAY 1

I’m an hour-and-a–half late for the Lacoste party by the time my driver Enrique has safely deposited me at the entrance of The Miami Beach EDITION. Up until this point it’s been a full day of stress: flights delayed, then cancelled, then rebooked; but miraculously I’m where I need to be. 

I’m whisked away through the hotel and down to the beach. Like a gleaming, glossy dark green oasis under the overcast sky, a spotlit tennis court comes into view. The air is humid, the music is pumping, and I can immediately spot some of the world’s top tennis players dotted in the crowd: Venus Williams, Daniil Medvedev, Grigor Dimitrov, and Arthur Fils. Oh, yes. 

I push my way through the sea of polo shirt-adorned guests and grab a bubbly René Lacoste-inspired cocktail just as the main event is beginning. Tonight, the pros are joining forces with influencers to face-off in some heated doubles action. No pressure. 

If you’re brave enough to play with the pros, there’s a racket for you.

Not even Ollie can outshine the beacon that is the glowing Crocodile.

DAY 2

I wake up, not to the sound of my alarm, but to the noise coming from a photo shoot happening directly outside my window. I’m quoting the photographer when I say, “Fashion! Fashion! Fashion!” 

We gather at the EDITION for a fabulous lunch of tuna tartare, salad, pizza, and campanelle, but our hopes of seeing tennis that evening are being dissolved by the sheets of rain falling outside. 

My fears become real—all tennis sessions have been cancelled. To make ourselves feel better, a group of us go for food and slushies at Wet Willie’s on Ocean Drive before heading to Twist for a dance.

DAY 3

It’s my last day, and for the first time on this trip there’s sunshine and blue skies.

I’m one of the first to arrive at Club Lacoste, and I’m drawn immediately to the sprawling view of center court. It’s going to be a good day. The first match is Laura Siegemund of Germany dueling Alexandra Eala of the Philippines.

A little midday break with Bach.

As the next match gets going (Brazilian Joao Fonseca versus Hungarian Fábián Marozsán), the time comes for me to pry myself away from tennis and depart for New York. But before I do, I touch base with Ollie to talk Lacoste lore and last night’s off-the-record event. Until next time, Miami.