Jannik Sinner is out and Casper Ruud is in.
Due to his recent WADA drug suspension that will keep him off the competitive tennis courts until May, Sinner will not compete in the “The MGM Rewards Slam,” a star-studded weekend of tennis taking place Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2 at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Ruud, a two-time runner-up at Roland Garros, replaces Sinner at the exhibition event.
On Sunday, March 2, the 26-year-old Ruud of Oslo, Norway, currently No. 5 in the world rankings, joins world No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev and Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, ranked Nos. 4 and 9, respectively, in a four-player round-robin event using 10-point tiebreakers. The two players with the highest points will compete in a Championship Tiebreak for the men’s version of the Lion’s Cup.
Ruud, who has 12 ATP singles titles in his more than 10-year career, became the highest-ranked Norwegian in history when he vaulted to No. 2 in the world singles rankings in September 2022. After growing up idolizing Rafael Nadal and training at the all-time great’s academy, Ruud squared off against his hero and lost in the finals at the 2022 French Open. Ruud, who has earned more than $23 million in career prize money, was honored by his fellow players with the 2022 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award.
In Saturday’s main event, women’s World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face off against former No. 1 Naomi Osaka for the coveted Lion’s Cup. Sabalenka, the recent Australian Open finalist from Belarus, is a three-time Grand Slam singles champion while Japan’s Osaka has earned four Grand Slam titles, including her first two back-to-back at the 2018 U.S. Open and 2019 Australian Open.
Additionally on Sunday, American Reilly Opelka and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will square off in “The Ace Challenge Presented by Michelob ULTRA” for the title of the game’s fastest serve.
Tickets are on sale via axs.com. Single-day tickets start at $55 and two-day tickets at $127.50, not including applicable service charges or fees. Room and ticket packages also are available online at The MGM Rewards Slam Packages and include premium tickets to both matches, luxury accommodations, and more.
ABOUT MGM REWARDS
MGM Rewards is MGM Resorts International’s premier lifestyle loyalty program that allows members to earn benefits and rewards for virtually every dollar they spend throughout the company’s domestic destinations in Las Vegas, Detroit, Atlantic City, Mississippi, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio. MGM Rewards members have the benefit of earning MGM Rewards Points based on eligible non-gaming and gaming spend and redeemable for complimentary food and beverage, entertainment, hotel stays, and more. Additionally, seamless integration between MGM Rewards and BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, unlocks even more benefits, including the ability to earn rewards for online BetMGM play, Tier Credits toward MGM Rewards tier advancement and access to tailored offers and real-world experiences across MGM Resorts and BetMGM. For more information, visit mgmrewards.com.
The Michelob ULTRA Arena is a multi-purpose arena home to World Championship Boxing, premier concerts and special events. With seating for as many as 12,000, the entertainment venue offers excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art lighting and sound. Home to the WNBA multiple-time-champion Las Vegas Aces, the venue also has hosted prominent concerts and events including Justin Timberlake, KISS, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry, John Mayer, Metallica, Journey, Iron Maiden, Marc Anthony, New Kids on the Block and Alejandro Fernandez, among others. World championship boxing events have featured fighters including Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao. The Michelob ULTRA Arena also has been home to multiple Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, the annual Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction and the Latin Billboard Music Awards.
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