By Tenis Now | @TennisNow | Thursday September 12, 2024Photo credit score: Matthew Calvis
Madison Sq. Backyard would be the world’s tennis capital in December.
World class tennis returns to Madison Sq. Backyard on Wednesday, December 4 with The Backyard Cup, it was introduced at present.
Extra: Bouchard Jabs Pegula
4-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, US Open finalist Jessica Pegula and US Open semifinalists Ben Shelton and Emma Navarro will make their Madison Sq. Backyard debuts in a particular one-night tennis exhibition beginning at 7:00 pm Jap.
Reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz will lead the elite gamers into Madison Sq. Backyard and face 2023 US Open semifinalist, Ben Shelton. The 2 younger stars met as soon as earlier than in 2023 through the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Canada the place Alcaraz beat the present No. 17 Shelton in straight units.
The third-ranked Spaniard has captured 4 Grand Slam titles by the age of 21. At 19 years previous he gained his first Grand Slam title on the 2022 US Open adopted by a Wimbledon title in 2023 and earlier this 12 months, within the span of 5 weeks, he gained back-to-back 5 setters to say the French Open earlier than defeating Novak Djokovic to efficiently defend his Wimbledon title. On the 2024 Summer time Olympics, Alcaraz represented Spain and have become the third youngest male to win a singles Olympic medal, profitable the silver medal after falling to Djokovic.
“I’m wanting ahead to returning to New York on December 4 to play Ben at Madison Sq. Backyard,” mentioned Alcaraz. “Enjoying in entrance of the New York followers at The World’s Most Well-known Area shall be an unforgettable night time. It is going to be an incredible expertise.”
Buffalo native Jessica Pegula, is coming off her finest Grand Slam look enjoying within the US Open championship match for the primary time in her profession. The WTA Tour No. 3 ranked and No. 1 ranked American will step onto The Backyard court docket and tackle No. 8 ranked participant, Emma Navarro, who performed to the semifinal spherical of the US Open marking her most interesting Grand Slam look as effectively.
The 2 American girls lately teamed as much as signify Staff USA within the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games. Their one and solely profession assembly occurred within the 2024 Miami Open Spherical of 16 the place Pegula obtained the higher of Navarro. “As a New York tennis participant you dream of enjoying within the US Open ultimate and enjoying at Madison Sq. Backyard,” Pegula mentioned. “To have the ability to do each in a single 12 months simply reveals goals can come true. Actually wanting ahead to coming again to New York and enjoying Emma in entrance of the most effective followers on the planet.”
Fan favourite Shelton mentioned he’s buzzed by the prospect of enjoying within the World’s Most Well-known Area.
“I am thrilled to have the chance to play at Madison Sq. Backyard, one of the crucial iconic venues on the planet,” Sheltons mentioned. “New York has all the time been a particular place for me, and I am unable to wait to play in entrance an electrical New York crowd with Carlos. It may be an unbelievable expertise enjoying in entrance of a packed home!”
“I’m actually excited, mentioned Navarro. “We’re in one of the crucial iconic arenas on the planet. And to have the ability to share the stage with fellow American Jess, and placed on a present within the US, in New York Metropolis, is particular. I’m actually wanting ahead to it.”
Tickets for The Backyard Cup begin at $57 when bought in particular person on the Ticketmaster Field Workplace at Madison Sq. Backyard (4 Penn Plaza) and at $75.75 (together with $18.75 in service expenses) when bought on-line at msg.com
For teams of 9 or extra, please contact the Group Gross sales Division at 212-465-6080 or [email protected]. Accessible and companion seats can be found through the Accessibility Companies Division at 888-609-7599 or [email protected].
Tennis returns to The World’s Most Well-known Area for the primary time since 2018 when Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina, Coco Vandeweghe, Shuai Zhang, Marion Bartoli, Daniela Hantuchova and Sorana Cirstea took to The Backyard court docket.
Starting in 2008 Madison Sq. Backyard hosted a ten-year run of particular occasions that includes thrilling gamers equivalent to Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, the Williams sisters, Kim Clijsters, Ana Ivanovic, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Ivan Lendl, Mike and Bob Bryan, John and Patrick McEnroe, Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils, Jack Sock, Nick Kyrigos, Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Monica Seles and Gabriela Sabatini.
From 1972-2001, the season-ending girls’s event was performed at Madison Sq. Backyard and featured the highest 16 singles gamers on the planet.
For a time, the Madison Sq. Backyard ultimate was the one event on the planet the place girls performed a best-of-five-set ultimate.
