From Tennis Now | @TennisNow | Thursday 12 September 2024
Photo: 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.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, US Open finalist Jessica Pegula and US Open semifinalists Ben Shelton and Emma Navarro will make their Madison Square Garden debuts in a special one-night tennis showcase starting at 7pm Eastern.
Reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz will lead the elite players at Madison Square Garden and face 2023 US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton. The two young stars met once before in 2023 at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Canada, where Alcaraz defeated No. 1 Shelton. 17 in live groups.
The third-ranked Spaniard has captured four Grand Slam titles by the age of 21. At the age of 19 he won his first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open followed by a Wimbledon title in 2023 and earlier this year, in the space of five weeks, he won five straight to claim the French title 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 the silver medal after being knocked out by Djokovic.
“I can’t wait to get back to New York on December 4th to play Ben at Madison Square Garden,” said Alcaraz. “Playing in front of the New York fans in the most famous Arena in the world will be an unforgettable night. It will be a great experience.”
Buffalo native Jessica Pegula is coming off her best Grand Slam appearance by playing in the US Open championship match for the first time in her career. WTA Tour No. 3 ranked and American ranked no. 1 will enter the court at The Garden and face the player ranked no. 8, Emma Navarro, who played in the semi-final round of the US Open, marking her best performance in a Grand Slam.
The two American women recently teamed up to represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their one and only career meeting took place in the round of 16 at the 2024 Miami Open where Pegula bested Navarro. “As a New York tennis player you dream of playing in the US Open final and playing in Madison Square Garden,” Pegula said. “To be able to do both in one year just goes to show that dreams can come true. I’m really looking forward to getting back to New York and playing Emma in front of the best fans in the world.”
Fan favorite Shelton said he is in awe of the prospect of playing in the world’s most famous arena.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to play at 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 an electric New York crowd with Carlos. It will be an incredible experience to play in front of a packed house!”
“I’m very excited,” Navarro said. “We are 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 US, in New York City, is special. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Garden Cup tickets start at $57 when purchased in person at the Madison Square Garden Box Office (4 Penn Plaza) and $75.75 (including $18.75 service charge) 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 and companion seats 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 when Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina, Coco Vandeweghe, Shuai Zhang, Marion Bartoli, Daniela Hantuchova and Sorana Cirstea took to the court at The Garden.
Beginning in 2008, Madison Square Garden hosted a ten-year series of special events featuring exciting players such 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 Janles.
From 1972-2001, the season-ending women’s tournament was played at Madison Square Garden and featured the top 16 singles players in the world.
For a time, the Madison Square Garden final was the only tournament in the world where women played a best-of-five final.
