Considering the diversity of sports that have come to Prudential Center — an arena that prides itself as much on variety as volume — it may be surprising to note that a tennis match has never been held there in its 18-year history.
That ends Sunday, when men’s world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and a number of other top players come to Newark for an afternoon exhibition.
Tickets available
Tickets for Sunday’s Racquet at the Rock, which will feature world’s No. 1 male, Carlos Alcaraz, facing Frances Tiafoe, a women’s match between the last two U.S. Open runners-up, Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula, a mixed doubles match (Tiafoe-Anisimova vs. Alcaraz-Pegula) and more are available at ticketmaster.com as well as Prucenter.com, and Prudential Center’s Box Office.
Premium seating opportunities, including a courtside club seating package, also are available. The event will run from 4-8 p.m.
Dylan Wanagiel, the VP of sports properties and special events at the Pru Center and all the other Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment properties big (Northwest Stadium in D.C.), and small (White Eagle Hall in Jersey City), said the idea for the event came from discussions with one of their partners, Unified Events.
“This is a great market for tennis, no question about it,” he said. “The U.S. Open is an event unto its own and an incredibly hot ticket. But after those two plus weeks are over, you don’t get to see the pros for another year. We thought maybe we can remedy that, but we needed to find the right partner to work with.”
When Unified Events pitched a day featuring not only Alcaraz paired off against Frances Tiafoe, but a women’s match that now features the last two U.S. Open runners-up, Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula, Wanagiel and the Pru Center jumped at it.
“When you have an opportunity to bring four marquee names like that, you really have to take a swing at it,” he said.
“It was an easy, ‘Yes,’ for us.”
The players will play a modified best two-out-of-three sets (with an if-necessary third set being a tiebreaker) as well as a mixed-doubles event.
The day is about more than just the big four, however.
A juniors match, featuring Ronit Karki of East Brunswick, a top junior player, also is on the schedule. As is a tribute to Althea Gibson, the first woman of color to win a major (she won 11) who was a prominent figure in East Orange in second half of her life.
“We are looking at this event as a celebration of the entire sport of tennis,” Wanagiel said. “Part of that was, ‘Who are the stars of tomorrow?’ So, we created the juniors match.
“And the Prudential Center has a long history of making sure their events connect to the community. To be able to recognize Althea Gibson is really special.”
The event also will feature a Red Ball Tennis demonstration. Think of the pickle ball concept, but one featuring an extra-large (obviously red) ball.
Of course, Alcaraz is the biggest draw.
“Carlos, in addition to having breathtaking skill, is the top personality in the sport, someone that fans of all ages and genders gravitate toward,” he said. “He already is an all-time great.
“To have him in the first tennis match at the Prudential Center is really special.”
Wanagiel gave special thanks to Unified Events for that.
“It’s incredible to think that we can still do something for the first time at the Prudential Center,” he said. “Kudos to our friends at unified events, who came to us with this idea. We loved it and we’re glad we took a shot at it.”
The event is sponsored by Turkish Airlines and PGIM, the $1.5 trillion global asset management business of Prudential Financial.
