Newly Revamped MSG Set to Host the Biggest Stars in Tennis

7th Annual BNP Paribas Showdown coming to the Big Apple March 3

February 28, 2014 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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The 7th Annual BNP Paribas Showdown is set for Monday, March 3 at Madison Square Garden. The event will provide an unbelievable night of tennis when some of the biggest names in the game take to the court in the World’s Most Famous Arena. The event will feature tennis’ number one rivalry, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, as well as, for the first time in its history, a unique brothers doubles match with John & Patrick McEnroe teaming up to take on Bob & Mike Bryan, arguably the best doubles team of all-time. The doubles match, which begins at 7:00 p.m., will be an eight-game pro set followed by a best-of-three sets for the singles match. The BNP Paribas Showdown is produced by MSG Sports and StarGames.

The event, which consistently attracts the biggest names in tennis, will follow the likes of Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Ivan Lendl, Juan Martin del Potro, Serena and Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic, and Jelena Jankovic, all who took part in previous Showdowns providing unforgettable memories for New York tennis fans.

“I am looking forward to coming to Madison Square Garden,” said Djokovic. “I have heard nothing but great things about this event and it should be a big night for tennis in New York, one of my favorite places to play.”

“I'm excited about coming to the Garden next year," said Murray. "Ivan [Lendl] has told me plenty of stories about matches and other events that have taken place there. There is so much history attached to the venue and it should be a great night for both Novak and me."

Once again, the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden will headline a full day of nationwide activities as part of “Tennis Night in America” and “World Tennis Day,” a global tennis participation effort. Both events promote tailoring the game to players 10 & Under with smaller racquets, lighter balls and modified scoring.



 

The tale of the tape
First match: The Bryan Brothers vs. The McEnroe Brothers
Perhaps the best doubles team of all-time, Bob & Mike Bryan are the current world number one doubles team. The duo notched their 15th Grand Slam title after winning the 2013 Wimbledon finals, simultaneously becoming the first team in tennis history to have all four majors plus an Olympic Gold Medal all at the same time. The American pair recently broke John Newcombe & Tony Roche’s record of 12 Grand Slams after winning their sixth Australian Open in January.

John McEnroe has been dubbed one of the best doubles players of all time. The U.S. native holds 17 major titles: nine in doubles, seven in singles, and one in mixed. He formed a powerful team with doubles partner Peter Fleming, with whom he won seven out of his nine major titles. McEnroe finished his career with an 875-198 overall record, and 77 titles. He reached the world number one rank on March 3, 1980.His younger brother, Patrick McEnroe, reached a career-high ranking of 28 on Sept. 11, 1995. He finished his career with a 140-163 singles record, and recorded a Grand Slam doubles championship win along the way. In 1989, the younger McEnroe paired with Jim Grabb to capture the French Open title.



 

Second match: Novak vs. Andy Murray
Novak Djokovic
is one of the most decorated players in the sport, and is the current world number two player. The Serbian-born Djokovic won his sixth Grand Slam title this year at the 2013 Australian Open after defeating Murray in four sets. With the win, he joined the likes of Andre Agassi and Roger Federer as four-time Australian Open winners. In 2011 Djokovic captured both the Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles as well. On June 1, he became the 40th man to win 500 matches in ATP World Tour history.

Andy Murray rose to his current ranking of seventh in the world after teaming up with tennis legend, Ivan Lendl. He won his first Grand Slam title at the 2012 U.S. Open, defeating Djokovic in a marathon five-set match. Murray also made it as far as the finals in the 2013 Australian Open, defeating Roger Federer in the semifinals and eventually falling to Djokovic in the finals. On July 7, 2013 Murray became the first Brit to win the Wimbledon title since Fred Perry in 1936, where he defeated Djokovic in three sets to claim the crown.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
USTA NTC
Century

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