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Jannik Sinner Replaced By Casper Ruud in MGM Rewards Slam In Las Vegas March 1-2

February 20, 2025 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

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.

ABOUT MICHELOB ULTRA ARENA

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.

Casper Ruud (Norwegen) Hamburg, 26.07.2023, Tennis, Hamburg European Open 2023, Combined, Herren Einzel

Opelka, Mpetshi Perricard To Play “The Ace Challenge” At MGM Rewards Slam In Las Vegas

February 14, 2025 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

MGM Resorts International has announced that two of the game’s biggest servers, American Reilly Opelka and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, will square off Sunday, March 2 in “The Ace Challenge Presented by Michelob ULTRA,” to earn the title of the game’s fastest serve. The winner will take home a cash prize as part of the “The MGM Rewards Slam” weekend at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The 27-year-old Opelka looks to make his way back up the ATP Tour rankings, where he reached a career high No. 17 in 2022, following nearly two years off due to injury. One day after upsetting all-time men’s Grand Slam wins leader Novak Djokovic at the Brisbane International to start the year, Opelka downed Perricard in the semifinals before pulling out of the final due to a back injury.

The six-foot-eight, 21-year-old Perricard had a breakout year in 2024 and owns a current career-high ATP ranking of No. 30. He leads the ATP Tour with an average of 19.3 aces per match and is currently ranked No. 1 with a 302.1 service rating. He made headlines earlier in the year with a booming 144 miles-per-hour serve. Last year at Wimbledon, he cracked 51 aces in one match.

In Sunday’s action, men’s World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev and Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, ranked Nos. 4 and 9, respectively, will participate 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.

Tickets are on sale now 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.

“The MGM Rewards Slam” is presented by MGM Resorts Live Event Ventures, which is focused on seeking out and creating new-to-market live sports and entertainment programming including LPGA T-Mobile Match Play and Players Era Festival, to name a few.

Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka Highlight “MGM Rewards Slam” In Las Vegas March 1, 2

January 23, 2025 by Randy Walker Leave a Comment

MGM Resorts International will welcome the World’s No. 1 Men’s and Women’s tennis players, along with other highly ranked professionals, to the sports and entertainment capital of the world Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2 when “The MGM Rewards Slam” takes center court inside Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay.

Single-day tickets starting at $55 and two-day tickets starting at $127.50, not including applicable service charges or fees, go on sale to the public Monday, Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. PST via axs.com. All Club and Seat License members, as well as members of MGM Rewards and AXS, will receive access to a pre-sale Thursday, Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to Sunday, Jan. 26 at 10 p.m. PST. Room and ticket packages also will be available online at The MGM Rewards Slam Packages and include premium tickets to both matches, luxury accommodations, and more.

In Saturday’s main event, Women’s World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face off against former No. 1 Naomi Osaka. Sabalenka, who has won a combined 23 career titles in singles and doubles, is the two-time reigning Australian Open champion and will defend her 2024 U.S. Open title later this year. Osaka has earned four Grand Slam titles, including her first two which came back-to-back at the 2018 U.S. Open and 2019 Australian Open. In Sunday’s action, Men’s World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev, and Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, ranked 4^th and 9^th, respectively, will participate in a four-player competition.

“The 2024 ‘Netflix Slam’ at Mandalay Bay was a huge success and one of our most entertaining sporting events of the year,” said Lance Evans, MGM Resorts’ Senior Vice President of Sports and Sponsorships. “We anticipate creating another memorable event experience as tennis fans worldwide will enjoy watching the sport’s best players compete at the highest level in Las Vegas.”

The format of the Sunday men’s event, additional competitors, the 2025 event broadcast partner, as well as additional VIP programming and event details will be announced in the near future. In the 2024 premiere “Netflix Slam” event, legend Rafael Nadal battled fellow Spaniard and world champion Carlos Alcaraz in a grueling three-set match.

“The MGM Rewards Slam” is presented by MGM Resorts Live Event Ventures which is focused on seeking out and creating new-to-market live sports and entertainment programming including LPGA T-Mobile Match Play and Players Era Festival, to name a few.

ABOUT MGM REWARDS

ABOUT MICHELOB ULTRA ARENA

Las Vegas, Orlando Are New World TeamTennis Franchises

March 5, 2019 by tennisbloggers

World TeamTennis is growing to a league of eight teams for its upcoming 44th season after the league announced expansion franchises in Las Vegas and Orlando will begin play in July.

WTT jointly announced its 59-match regular season – seven home matches and seven away matches for each team – in 2019 will run from July 14-31. The 2019 WTT playoffs, to be hosted by Orleans Arena (at the Orleans Hotel and Casino) in Las Vegas, begin with the league’s semifinals on Aug. 2 and conclude with the WTT Finals on Aug. 3. To view the entire 2019 day-by-day schedule, click HERE.

“The addition of two new franchises in Las Vegas and Orlando signifies the continued growth of World TeamTennis and the embracement of the league’s exciting fan-friendly team format,” WTT CEO Carlos Silva said. “We look forward to many of the top players in the world creating new rivalries, and renewing old ones, as they compete for the King Trophy during the 2019 season.”

Orlando’s team name will be the Orlando Storm and it will play its home matches at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Campus in Lake Nona, Fla. The Orlando Storm will be coached by Scott Lipsky – a 2011 French Open mixed doubles champion and winner of 16 ATP doubles titles – with Jocelyn Davie serving as the General Manager.

Las Vegas’ team will be known as the Vegas Rollers, and it has secured the Orleans Arena as its home venue. The Vegas Rollers will be coached by Tim Blenkiron – a 1997 NCAA Division I Doubles national champion at UNLV and coach for WTA player Asia Muhammad – with Sally Dewhurst serving as the General Manager.

Orlando and Vegas will begin to fill out their squads at the WTT Draft on March 12 in Indian Wells, Calif.

“The addition of two new teams in two strong markets is a positive move for WTT for 2019 and for the future,” WTT co-founder Billie Jean King said. “This expansion is not only good for the league, it also is another indication of the importance of bringing our brand of tennis to new audiences and our commitment to growing the sport at all levels.”

WTT introduced professional team tennis to the world in 1974, with Billie Jean King famously serving as its co-founder. The new teams in Orlando and Las Vegas join the league’s existing franchises – New York Empire, Orange County Breakers, Philadelphia Freedoms, San Diego Aviators, Springfield Lasers and Washington Kastles – for play in July 2019.

Among the notable 2019 WTT season-opening matches on July 14, Springfield will open up defense of its 2018 WTT title at home against Philadelphia in a rematch of the 2018 WTT Finals, while Orlando and Vegas play each other in Lake Nona, Fla.

Among the schedule highlights in the 2019 WTT season are the following marquee and rival matchups:

 Springfield Lasers and Philadelphia Freedoms play each other at Springfield (Missouri) July 14 and at Philadelphia later in the month in a pair of 2018 WTT Finals rematches.
 Expansion teams Orlando Storm and Vegas Rollers square off at Orlando on July 14 and at Vegas on July 30.
 New York Empire and Washington Kastles play a home-and-home series on the consecutive nights – at New York July 19 and at Washington on July 20.
 2017 WTT Finals foes Orange County Breakers and San Diego Aviators continue their Southern California rivalry in Newport Beach, Calif. on July 20 and in Carlsbad, Calif. on July 26.
 Orange County Breakers and Springfield Lasers – WTT’s last two champions – face off in Newport Beach on July 22 and at Springfield July 30.

WTT completed its 2018 season on Aug. 5 as the Springfield Lasers, WTT’s longest-running franchise, defeated the Philadelphia Freedoms in the WTT Finals at Drexel University in Philadelphia to capture the King Trophy and its first WTT championship in its 23-year history.

In 2018, each of WTT’s teams incorporated select tennis stars from the ATP and WTA tours – including seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and 13-year WTT veteran Venus Williams, 2019 Australian Open and 2018 U.S. Open women’s singles champion Naomi Osaka, 2017 U.S. Open women’s champion Sloane Stephens, and twins Bob and Mike Bryan, the most decorated doubles team in tennis history.

WTT is one of five active U.S. pro sports leagues which has been in operation for over 40 years, along with the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB. For more information on World TeamTennis, please visit www.wtt.com.

About “World TeamTennis” (WTT)
World TeamTennis showcases the best in professional tennis with the innovative team format co-founded by Billie Jean King in the 1970s. Recognized as the leader in professional team tennis competition, WTT features many of the world’s best players competing annually for the King Trophy, the League’s championship trophy named after King. Since the League’s debut, virtually every major champion of the Open era has played WTT, including Andre Agassi, Venus and Serena Williams, Pete Sampras, Stefanie Graf, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Bob and Mike Bryan, Martina Hingis, Maria Sharapova, Lindsay Davenport, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Naomi Osaka. Owned by innovator Fred Luddy, entrepreneur Eric Davidson and tennis icon Billie Jean King, WTT’s 44th season plays from July 14 to July 31, with the league semifinals set for Aug. 2 and the finals Aug. 3. Learn more about the history and league champions of World TeamTennis on the history page.