Alcaraz, Shelton, Pegula Navarro Headline MSG Backyard Cup

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 in the present day.

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 Japanese.

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 At 19 years outdated he received his first Grand Slam title on the 2022 US Open adopted by a Wimbledon title in 2023 and earlier this yr, within the span of 5 weeks, he received back-to-back 5 setters to assert 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, successful the silver medal after falling to Djokovic.

“I’m trying ahead to returning to New York on December 4 to play Ben at Madison Sq. Backyard,” stated Alcaraz. “Taking part in in entrance of the New York followers at The World’s Most Well-known Enviornment might be an unforgettable evening. It will likely be an excellent expertise.”

Buffalo native Jessica Pegula, is coming off her finest Grand Slam look taking part in 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 best Grand Slam look as effectively.

The 2 American ladies just 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 bought the higher of Navarro. “As a New York tennis participant you dream of taking part in within the US Open remaining and taking part in at Madison Sq. Backyard,” Pegula stated. “To have the ability to do each in a single yr simply exhibits goals can come true. Actually trying ahead to coming again to New York and taking part in Emma in entrance of the very best followers on the earth.”

Fan favourite Shelton stated he’s buzzed by the prospect of taking part in within the World’s Most Well-known Enviornment.

“I am thrilled to have the chance to play at Madison Sq. Backyard, some of the iconic venues on the earth,” Sheltons stated. “New York has all the time been a particular place for me, and I can not wait to play in entrance an electrical New York crowd with Carlos. It may be an unbelievable expertise taking part in in entrance of a packed home!”

“I’m actually excited, stated Navarro. “We’re in some of the iconic arenas on the earth. 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 trying ahead to it.”

Tickets for The Backyard Cup begin at $57 when bought in individual 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 by way of the Accessibility Companies Division at 888-609-7599 or [email protected]. 

Tennis returns to The World’s Most Well-known Enviornment 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 similar 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 ladies’s match was performed at Madison Sq. Backyard and featured the highest 16 singles gamers on the earth.

For a time, the Madison Sq. Backyard remaining was the one match on the earth the place ladies performed a best-of-five-set remaining.