2013/05/23

US Men’s Clay Court Championship Draw Announced

houston

HOUSTON – The main draw has been made for the 2013 US Men’s Clay Court Championship at River Oaks Country Club. The top seed is World No. 12 Nicolas Almagro of Spain, who has led the ATP World Tour in clay court match wins three of the past five years. Former tournament champion Tommy Haas, the No. 14 player in the world, is the second seed. Those two, along with No. 3 seed and defending champion Juan Monaco, and No. 4 seed and top-ranked American Sam Querrey, will have first round byes.

(1) Nicolas Almagro (Spain) vs BYE
Gael Monfils (France) vs James Blake (USA)
Flavio Cipolla (Italy) vs Qualifier
Qualifier vs (7) Paolo Lorenzi (Italy)
(4) Sam Querrey (USA) vs BYE
(WC) Rhyne Williams (USA) vs Guido Pella (Argentina)
(PR) Somdev Devvarman (India) vs Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo (Spain)
(WC) Steve Johnson (USA) vs (6) Fernando Verdasco (Spain)
(8) Michael Russell (USA) vs Qualifier
Martin Alund (Argentina) vs Lleyton Hewitt (Australia)
Josselin Ouanna (France) vs Tim Smyczek (USA)
BYE vs (3) Juan Monaco (Argentina)
(5) John Isner (USA) vs Ryan Harrison (USA)
(WC) Jack Sock (USA) vs Qualifier
Ricardis Berankis (LTU) vs Jesse Levine (CAN)
BYE vs (2) Tommy Haas (Germany)

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , ,

Hewitt, Blake and Haas Commit to Houston

houston

(February 28, 2013) HOUSTON – Former champions Lleyton Hewitt (2009) and Tommy Haas (2004) as well as former finalist James Blake (2008) are among the players added to the field for the 2013 US Men’s Clay Court Championship as the preliminary entry list was released this week. Twenty-three players, including six ranked within the Top 25 on the ATP World Tour, have committed to the 28-player field for the tournament at River Oaks Country Club April 8-14.

Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam champion from Australia, and Germany’s Haas headline a list of international stars in the event that includes defending champion Juan Monaco from Argentina, France’s Gael Monfils and Spaniard’s Nicolas Almagro and Fernando Verdasco.

Blake, a former Top 5 player, is among a group of seven Americans that includes 2012 River Oaks runner-up John Isner, 2010 finalist Sam Querrey, Ryan Harrison, Tim Smyczek, Houston resident Michael Russell and wild card recipient Jack Sock.

“Getting the entry list always gives everyone around River Oaks a little energy boost because it means the tournament is now less than six weeks away,” said Tournament Director Van Barry. “With the players that has signed up for the 2013 tournament, I anticipate a lot of excitement for this tournament. It’s such a deep field, I think every day of the week will have plenty of stars and quality matches.”

Here are the first 22 entries for the 213 US Men’s Clay Court Championship, with their nationality and ranking as of Monday, Feb. 25:
Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 12
Martin Alund (Argentina) 91
Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania) 87
Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) 75
James Blake (USA) 99
Flavio Cipolla (Italy) 100
Somdev Devvarman (India) 85*
Tommy Haas (Germany) 19
Ryan Harrison (USA) 76
Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 98
John Isner (USA) 15
Jesse Levine (Canada) 95
Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) 57
Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) 77
Juan Monaco (Argentina) 14
Guido Pella (Argentina) 88
Sam Querrey (USA) 23
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (Spain) 96
Michael Russell (USA) 72
Tim Smyczek (USA) 101
Jack Sock (USA) 130
Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 24
*Protected Ranking

One more player will join the field as wild cards while four more players will advance into the main draw through the qualifying tournament that will be held begin April 6 at River Oaks.

In addition to these singles players, four-time doubles champion the Bryan Brothers will return to River Oaks. The twin brothers Bob and Mike are the World No. 1 doubles team. They own the record for Grand Slam titles with 13 together as well as total career titles together with 85.

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Isner Commits to Citi Open

2011-logo-citi-open-200

WASHINGTON –February 25, 2013 – The first player to be announced to the 2013 field, John Isner has made the Citi Open a staple event on his summer calendar after numerous successes, including a Cinderella run during his ATP World Tour debut in 2007, as he entered as a Wildcard and advanced to the finals against top-seed Andy Roddick. Since then, Isner has reached the quarterfinals, or better, in four of his five appearances at the tournament. Isner’s other career accomplishments include five ATP tour titles, reaching the quarterfinals of the 2012 London Olympic Games, leading the United States to the 2012 Davis Cup semifinal and winning the longest match in tennis history at Wimbledon in 2010 (d. Mahut 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–3), 70–68 for a total of 183 games).

 

Citi announced  that it will hold an exclusive presale for Citi credit and debit cardholders to purchase tickets to the 2013 Citi Open tennis tournament, which will be held from July 27 to August 4 at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park and will include American John Isner.

 

The presale begins February 25 at 10:00 a.m. and runs through Monday, March 4 at 11:59 pm. Citi cardholders will have first access to exclusive ticket packages, and individual session tickets, including Box and Reserve Seats, in advance of the general public.

Citi Open tickets will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, March 5. For more information about the Citi Open and tickets, please visit www.citiopentennis.com or call the tournament hotline at 202.721.9500.

 

The Citi Open is an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour 500 level event and is recognized by the ATP World Tour as one of the top 20 tournaments worldwide. The Citi Open continually attracts the best men’s tennis players from all around the globe, and we are pleased to announce the 2013 event will once again include a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) International Level tournament.

 

A part of the sports and entertainment fabric of Washington, D.C. for 44 years, the Citi Open, a Lagardère Unlimited production, is owned by and benefits the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation (WTEF), which seeks to improve the life prospects for D.C.-area youth.

Share
Filed Under: tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , ,

Monaco to Defend US Men’s Clay Court Championship

houston

(February 14, 2013) HOUSTON – Argentina’s Juan Monaco will defend his US Men’s Clay Court Championship title when the tournament returns to River Oaks Country Club April 8-14, and he will be accompanied in the field by American Sam Querrey and Frenchman Gael Monfils.

These three players join the previously announced commitments from top-ranked American John Isner and Spaniards Nicolas Almagro and Fernando Verdasco in the singles field and American twins Bob and Mike Bryan in the doubles field.

These singles entries put five players from the Top 25 of the current ATP World Tour rankings into the field for the tournament at River Oaks. As of Monday, Almagro was No. 11, Monaco No. 15, Isner No. 16, Querry No. 20 and Verdasco No. 24.

“We always take pride in exposing our fans to new players, so it is with great pleasure we can have guys like Monfils, Almagro and Verdasco making their River Oaks debut this year,” said Tournament Director Van Barry. “We are also happy to welcome back familiar faces. Juan Monaco was a popular champion last year, and the group of Americans we have returning have long been fan favorites here in Houston.”

Monaco will try to be the first repeat champion of the event since the recently retired Andy Roddick won back-to-back titles in 2001-02. The win at River Oaks last year was one of his career-high four titles in 2012. He has reached at least one clay court final in seven of the past eight seasons, and six of Monaco’s seven career titles have come on clay.

Querrey teamed with James Blake to win the 2012 doubles title at River Oaks. He’s also enjoyed singles success, reaching the final in 2010. He has won seven titles while appearing in 12 finals in his career, and earlier this month helped the US reach the Davis Cup quarterfinal with a pair of singles wins against Brazil.

Monfils has finished in the Top 20 in the World in four of the past five seasons. He has reached 17 career ATP finals, winning four titles. He was a finalist twice early in 2012 before a knee injury forced him to miss nearly four months. He already has reached one semifinal and another quarterfinal early in 2013.

In last year’s final, Monaco defeated Isner, who in 2012 reached the Top 10 for the first time. Almagro has led the ATP in clay court match wins three times in the past five seasons and is one of only four players with over 200 career clay court wins. Verdasco has reached 10 career clay court finals and finished in the Top 25 in five straight seasons.

The Bryan Brothers are the World No. 1 doubles team and four-time champions at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship. They own the record for Grand Slam titles with 13 together as well as total career titles together with 84.

Additional player commitments as well as a full schedule of special events will be announced in the weeks leading up to the 2013 US Men’s Clay Court Championship.

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bryan Brothers, Verdasco Join Isner and Almagro for US Men’s Clay Court Championship

houston

(February 7, 2013) HOUSTON – Four-time US Men’s Clay Court Championship doubles winners Bob and Mike Bryan and Spain’s Fernando Verdasco have committed to the 2013 tournament that will be held April 8-14 at River Oaks Country Club. The Bryans will be top seeds in the doubles field while Verdasco joins his countryman Nicolas Almagro and top-ranked American John Isner to form a trio of Top 25 players in the singles field.

The Bryans claimed the Australian Open title last month, extending their record with 84 career titles while also setting an Open Era record for Grand Slam titles with 13. The Southern California twins have finished as the No. 1 team on the ATP World Tour eight times in the past 10 years. The Bryans have a 16-match winning streak at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship, having won the title in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 (they did not play the event in 2008 and 2012).

Verdasco has finished in the Top 25 of the ATP World Tour rankings in each of the past five seasons. He has reached at least one final in eight of the past nine seasons, and 10 of his 17 career finals appearances have come on clay. He owns five career titles, and has been a member of three Spanish Davis Cup championship teams.

“Having three Top 25 players already committed to the event is very exciting as we are now just two months out from the event,” said Tournament Director Van Barry. “And we’re certainly excited to have the Bryans coming back. They are a fan favorite every year, and obviously they’ve had quite a bit of success here. We’re very happy with how the field is coming together for the tournament in April.”

Isner was runner-up at the 2012 US Men’s Clay Court Championship, falling to Juan Monaco in the final. Last season he became the No. 1 American and reached the Top 10 for the first time while winning a career-high 45 matches. He won two titles in 2012, bringing his career total to five in 12 finals. Twice in the past three seasons Isner has hit more than 1,000 aces to lead the ATP.

Almagro has led the ATP in clay-court match wins three times in the past five seasons. With a career record of 206-97 on clay courts, he joins Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo as the only active players with more than 200 wins on the surface. All 18 of his career ATP finals appearances have been on clay, and his 12 clay titles are second among active players behind Nadal’s 36.

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Isner and Almagro Commit to US Men’s Clay Court Championship

(November 30, 2012) HOUSTON – Two players in the Top 15 of the ATP World Tour rankings highlight the initial entries into the 2013 US Men’s Clay Court Championship that will be held April 8-14, 2013, at River Oaks Country Club.

John Isner, who at No. 14 is the top ranked American, and No. 11 Nicolas Almagro, a Spaniard who is one of the most accomplished clay-court players in the world, have both committed to participate in the 2013 event.

The news comes just before individual session tickets and the very popular “Champ Pass” go on sale on tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 1). The Champ Pass for the 2013 US Men’s Clay Court Championship includes a ticket to the Friday, Saturday and Sunday sessions. “The Champ Pass” usually sells out before the tournament begins. A limited number of season ticket packages are still remaining. Information on tickets can be found at www.mensclaycourt.com or by calling 713-874-6294.

Isner was runner-up at the 2012 US Men’s Clay Court Championship, falling to Juan Monaco in the final. This season he became the No. 1 American and reached the Top 10 for the first time while winning a career-high 45 matches. He won two titles in 2012, bringing his career total to five in 12 finals. Twice in the past three seasons Isner has hit more than 1,000 aces to lead the ATP.

Almagro has led the ATP in clay-court match wins three times in the past five seasons. With a career record of 206-97 on clay courts, he joins Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo as the only active players with more than 200 wins on the surface. All 18 of his career ATP finals appearances have been on clay, and his 12 clay titles are second among active players behind Nadal’s 36.

“We pride ourselves on being a United States championship as well as the nation’s only clay-court ATP tournament,” said tournament director Van Barry. “To get early commitments from the top American as well as one of the most accomplished clay-court players on Tour really helps us achieve both of those goals. We look forward to John coming back to River Oaks and welcoming Nicolas for the first time.”

Additional player commitments as well as a full schedule of special events will be announced in the weeks leading up to the 2013 US Men’s Clay Court Championship.

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , ,

Western & Southern Open Has Record Cyber Monday

(November 27, 2012) Cincinnati – Tennis enthusiasts  from 19 different states set to attend the Western & Southern Open in 2013 set a Cyber Monday in a record-setting holiday promotion for the tournament. Fans purchased $40,750 worth of tournament “Court Cards” from 12:01AM to 11:59PM on November 26, 2012.

The one-day promotion offered tournament Court Cards at a 10% discount. A Court Card is redeemable for tickets at the tournament box office, and food, beverage and merchandise at the Lindner Family Tennis Center during the event.

The Western & Southern Open is one of only five professional tennis events in the world (outside of the majors) to feature top-level men’s and women’s tournaments playing concurrently at the same venue during the same week. The event is played in Mason, OH, 20 miles north of Cincinnati.

 

The promotion was the first of two holiday efforts from the tournament. Beginning on December 12, 2012 (12/12/12), the event will offer exclusively through Ticketmaster a limited pre-release of tickets for the 2013 event. The sale runs for 12 days and fans can select their exact seats and print the tickets at home for last minute holiday gifts.

 

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , ,

2012 US Open Tickets go on Sale Monday June 11

Tickets Will Go On Sale Starting at 9:00 a.m. ET

 

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., June 10, 2012 – The USTA announced today that tickets to the 2012 US Open will go on sale to the general public on Monday, June 11, starting at 9:00 a.m. ET.  The 2012 US Open will be played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., Monday, August 27 through Sunday, September 9.

 

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess, a full-day tennis and music festival for children and families, will kick off the US Open for the 17th consecutive year and will take place on Saturday, August 25.  Tickets for the 2012 US Open and Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day can be purchased:

 

  • at USOpen.org
  • by calling Ticketmaster at 1-866-OPEN-TIX
  • at all Ticketmaster outlets
  • at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box office

 

The 2012 US Open will feature day sessions beginning at 11 a.m. and night sessions beginning at 7 p.m. from Monday, Aug. 27 through the quarterfinals on Thursday, Sept. 6.  Finals Weekend will feature the Women’s Singles Semifinals on Friday, Sept. 7; the Men’s Singles Semifinals on Saturday, Sept. 8; the Women’s Singles Final in primetime at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8; and the Men’s Singles Final at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9.

 

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box office hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  The box office will be closed Sundays and July 4. Payment can be made by credit card – - American Express is the Official Card of the US Open. For ticket plan availability, group sales, disabled seating and other US Open ticket information, call the USTA ticket office at 718-760-6200.

The 2012 US Open will mark the culmination of the Emirates Airline US Open Series, the seven-week summer tennis season linking ten major ATP World Tour and WTA tournaments in North America to the US Open.  In 2011, the US Open crowned two first-time singles champions, as Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal in the men’s final, while Samantha Stosur defeated Serena Williams in the women’s final.

 

Tickets

Share
Filed Under: tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , ,

US Open Social Media Presale

Tickets for the US Open go on sale to the general public on Monday, June 11, 2012. However the USTA is holding an exclusive on-line presale for Facebook fans only.

 

Fans will be able to purchase tickets prior to the general public on June 10th at 9 am  through the US Open Facebook page.

 

Those who take part in this exclusive presale will be automatically entered to win two (2) hospitality passes for their purchased session. These hospitality passes will include access to a luxurious shared hospitality setting with a fully catered buffet, premium bar service, and two bonus grounds passes for Opening Day of the 2012 US Open.

 

The presale will go live at 9 am on June 10, 2012.

 

For more information about the US Open:

www.USOpen.org

Kourtin’ Karen’s US Open Tips

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , ,

Federer Gives Fans US Open Tickets Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz


NEW YORK, New York- (August 24, 2011) Tennis fans discovered on Roger Federer’s facebook page  early on Wednesday morning this quote – “I’ll be giving away tickets to the US Open to help kick off the Tweet Rally to the 2011 US Open sponsored by Mercedes-Benz. We’ll have other prizes and fun things to do while we’re there, too. Get there early, though – the tickets will go fast! See you soon!”

Federer gave away US Open tickets to 20 fortunate fans in line in front of a Manhattan Mercedes-Benz dealership. Fans in line lived as close as five minutes away from the dealership and as far as central New Jersey. The tickets were all courtesy of Mercedes-Benz USA,  the Official Vehicle and the Presenting Sponsor of the US Open Men’s Singles Championship. Rally to the 2011 US Open and plan to giveaway 90 pairs of tickets during a two week period through the Twitter feed @MBUSA which began August 22 and will last until September 1.

 

Through the @MBUSA Twitter handle, messages are being broadcast with clues to surprise locations and times where those following the Tennis Tweet Rally can go to land a pair of premium loge US Open tickets.  Each location is marked by a special tennis themed 2012 ML 350 SUV, which serves as the ticket giveaway spot on a first come, first served basis.

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Mercedes-Benz dealers will be taking part in the Tennis Tweet Rally  which will be revealed in the Twitter feed @MBUSA.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) announced a multi-year partnership with the USTA in 2010 that designates Mercedes-Benz the “Official Vehicle of theUSOpen” and the “Presenting Sponsor of the US Open Men’s Singles Championship.”

Mercedes-Benz is also a sponsor of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. For more information on the Mercedes-Benz US Open Twitter® Rally Promotion, visit the Mercedes-Benz USA Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/pBAULy.

 

 

 

 

Share
Filed Under: Events, Features, Front Page News, tennis news, Video Tagged With: , , ,
«Older Posts