From February 13-22, don’t miss top ATP and WTA pros in action at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and Cellular South Cup at the Racquet Club of Memphis, the only private club to host an indoor event for the men’s and women’s pro tours combined.
The ATP (the men’s tour) has been making a stop in Memphis since 1977 when the tournament was known as the U.S. Indoor National Championships. Since Bjorn Borg took home the title that year, the tournament has seen the likes of other men’s greats like Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Stephan Edberg, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, and Andy Roddick. This year’s field features seven players ranked in the ATP Top 25, including American star James Blake, who finished the 2008 season ranked 10th in the world. A three-time champion at this event, Tommy Haas will also vie for the title. Haas was saddled with injuries throughout much of the 2008 season but is healthy now and looking to grab a record-breaking fourth title in Memphis.
In the fall of 2001, tournament owner Mac Winkler bought the rights to a WTA event that had been hosted in Oklahoma City, and in 2002, Cellular South signed on as the title sponsor, hence the tournament’s title. Since moving to Memphis the tournament has included two two-time champions (Lisa Raymond and Vera Zvonareva) and greats such as Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport, last year’s champion. This year’s field features 2006 champion Sofia Arvidsson as well as Caroline Wozniacki, who is ranked 12th in the world, and Victoria Azarenka, ranked 16th.
The legendary Pete Sampras, the all-time leader in Grand Slam singles titles (14) who finished #1 a record six consecutive seasons, will face former world #1 Lleyton Hewitt in an exhibition match on February 16th to kick off the event. Hewitt holds a narrow edge in their head-to-head match ups, most notably besting Sampras in the final of the 2001 U.S. Open.
Tickets are going fast. Order now by calling 901-765-4401 or emailing ticketsales@racquetclubofmemphis.com. For more tournament information go to http://www.rmkchampionships.com/1/home/.
Jason Middlekauff