By Tennis Now | @TennisNow | Thursday, September 12, 2024
Photo credit: Matthew Calvis
Madison Square Garden will be the tennis capital of the world in December.
World-class tennis returns to Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, December 4 with The Garden Cup, it was announced today.
Again: Bouchard Jabs Pegula
Four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, U.S. Open finalist Jessica Pegula and U.S. Open semifinalists Ben Shelton and Emma Navarro will make their Madison Square Garden debuts in a special one-night tennis exhibition that begins at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
Defending Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz will lead an elite field to Madison Square Garden and face 2023 US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton. The two young stars previously met in 2023 at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Canada, where Alcaraz defeated the No. 17-ranked Shelton in straight sets.
The third-ranked Spaniard has won four Grand Slam titles by the age of 21. At 19, he won his first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open, followed by the Wimbledon title in 2023. Earlier this year, in the span of five weeks, he won five straight sets to claim the French Open before defeating Novak Djokovic to successfully defend his Wimbledon title. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Alcaraz represented Spain and became the third-youngest man to win an Olympic singles medal, winning silver after losing to Djokovic.
“I can’t wait to come back to New York on December 4th to play Ben at Madison Square Garden,” Alcaraz said. “Playing in front of the New York fans at the Most Famous Arena in the World is going to be an unforgettable night. It’s going to be an incredible experience.”
Buffalo native Jessica Pegula is fresh off her career-best Grand Slam performance at the U.S. Open for the first time in her career. The No. 3 American on the WTA Tour and No. 1 will step onto The Garden court to face No. 8 Emma Navarro, who is coming off a run to the semifinals of the U.S. Open, marking her best Grand Slam performance.
The two American women recently teamed up to represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their only career meeting came in the Round of 16 at the 2024 Miami Open, when Pegula defeated Navarro. “As a New York tennis player, you dream of playing in the finals of the US Open and playing in Madison Square Garden,” Pegula said. “To be able to do both in one year shows that dreams can come true. I’m really looking forward to coming back to New York and playing Emma in front of the best fans in the world.”
Fan favorite Shelton said he is excited about the prospect of playing at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
“I am so excited to have the opportunity to play Madison Square Garden, one of the most iconic venues in the world,” said Shelton. “New York has always been a special place for me, and I can’t wait to play in front of a passionate New York crowd with Carlos. It will be an incredible experience playing in front of a packed house!”
“I’m so excited,” Navarro said. “We’re in one of the most iconic arenas in the world. And to be able to share the stage with fellow American Jess and do a show in the U.S., in New York City, is special. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Tickets for The Garden Cup start at $57 when purchased in person at the Ticketmaster Box Office at Madison Square Garden (4 Penn Plaza) and $75.75 (including an $18.75 service fee) when purchased online at msg.com
For groups of nine or more, please contact the Group Sales Department at 212-465-6080 or [email protected]Accessible seating and companions are available through the Accessibility Services Department at 888-609-7599 or [email protected].
Tennis returns to the World’s Most Famous Arena for the first time since 2018 as Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina, Coco Vandeweghe, Shuai Zhang, Marion Bartoli, Daniela Hantuchova and Sorana Cirstea take to the courts of The Garden.
Beginning in 2008, Madison Square Garden has hosted a series of special events for ten years featuring such greats as 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 to 2001, the season-ending women’s tournament was played at Madison Square Garden and featured the world’s top 16 singles players.
For a time, the Madison Square Garden finals were the only tournament in the world where women played a best-of-five-set final.
#Alcaraz #Shelton #Pegula #Navarro #headline #MSG #Garden #Cup