Four of the world’s top women tennis players, including 2008 Grand Slam Champions Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic, along with World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, will face off in a one-night only single elimination event which will also celebrate tennis legend Billie Jean King and benefit two charities.
The “BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup” is scheduled for Monday, March 2, at Madison Square Garden and will be telecast live on HBO beginning at 7:30 p.m. E.T.
Limited front row VIP tickets priced at $1,000.00 and additional tickets listed at $325.00, $175.00, $125.00, $75.00, and $50.00 went on sale today and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.thegarden.com. The $1.2 million “BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup”, the featured component of the national “Tennis Night in America” promotion, is produced by StarGames in association with Madison Square Garden. The event will benefit the Dream Vaccines Foundation and Women's Sports Foundation.
“I am honored to be part of an event that showcases Serena, Venus, Jelena, and Ana – four of the best players in women’s tennis today — in one of the most storied tennis venues in the world,” said sports icon and tennis legend Billie Jean King. “This collection of players, competing in this spectacular venue, in an event that benefits the Women’s Sports Foundation and other organizations, is the perfect mix to deliver an exciting and entertaining celebration of women’s sports and tennis.”
On the heels of last spring’s sold out Pete Sampras/Roger Federer extravaganza, women’s tennis returns to Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2000 when Martina Hingis defeated Monica Seles in the WTA Championships. The Garden hosted the WTA season-ending tournament every year but one between 1977 and 2000.
“Women’s tennis has a long-standing tradition at Madison Square Garden and we are excited that it will return with this premier event,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Sports. “Madison Square Garden aspires to host the biggest events with the brightest stars in sports and entertainment, and this evening of tennis certainly fits the bill.”
Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women’s Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through physical activity.
The Dream Vaccines Foundation is a new non-profit US-based public charity that will be focused on the development of the vaccines against HIV/AIDS and malaria. Since the viruses that are the source of HIV and Malaria are different according to each region of the world, Dream Vaccines foundation will support specific human clinical trials in different areas of the developing world. The Foundation will offer grants to researchers and will also create and finance “Dream Vaccines Foundation Chairs” for professors willing to bring their input on those vaccines.
Tickets to the event are available here.
