If you missed the U.S. Open this summer, don’t worry: New York’s not done serving up world-class tennis just yet. Two back-to-back showcase events are landing in the Tri-State area this December, bringing the sport’s biggest names (and a few fierce rivalries) to local courts.
First up: A Racquet at the Rock, making history as the first-ever tennis event at Newark’s Prudential Center on Sunday, December 7. The lineup is stacked, headlined by 2025 U.S. Open champion and World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who’ll take on crowd favorite Frances Tiafoe. “It is always a lot of fun to be on the court with Frances—we love to compete against each other, and I can’t wait to put on a great show for the fans in Newark,” Alcaraz said in a statement.
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The women’s match promises just as much fire. New Jersey native and Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova will face 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu. “Playing at the inaugural ‘A Racquet at The Rock’ against Amanda is an exciting way to end the season,” Raducanu said. “The energy of a packed arena, especially in the tri-state area, is unmatched.”
The action continues the very next night, December 8, with The Garden Cup returning to Madison Square Garden for its 12th edition. Expect fireworks as reigning World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faces four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka—both making their MSG debuts. “I love playing in New York, so coming back to The Garden at holiday time will be awesome,” Sabalenka said. Osaka added, “Playing at Madison Square Garden has a special meaning for a tennis player. The history there is unmatched in sports.”
On the men’s side, showman Nick Kyrgios and Olympic medalist Tommy Paul will square off before a mixed doubles finale caps the night.
With Alcaraz, Tiafoe, Anisimova, Raducanu, Sabalenka, Osaka, Kyrgios and Paul all taking the court over one epic weekend, it’s basically the U.S. Open, minus the September humidity and subway chaos.
Tickets for A Racquet at the Rock are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and Prucenter.com, while The Garden Cup can be snagged via Ticketmaster and Vivid Seats. Two nights, two arenas and a whole lot of aces—it’s shaping up to be a December tennis doubleheader worth braving the cold for.
AloJapan.com