DEFENDING CHAMPION AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA COMMITS TO 2017 CONNECTICUT OPEN PRESENTED BY UNITED TECHNOLOGIES
MARTINA NAVRATILOVA RETURNS TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF WOMEN’S TENNIS IN NEW HAVEN
Navratilova To Play Exhibition Doubles Match, Participate In Opening Ceremony Presented By Yale University;
Daily Tickets Now On Sale, Seating In Stadium Streamlined To Simplify Purchasing
NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 18, 2017 – Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska has committed to play the 2017 Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies, while 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova will return to the tournament to celebrate 20 years of women’s tennis in New Haven. A Premier WTA event that is part of the US Open Series, the 2017 Connecticut Open will be held August 18-26 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale.
Radwanska rolled through the field en route to the 2016 Connecticut Open title, defeating three-time champion Petra Kvitova in the semifinals before bouncing Elina Svitolina in the final. The World No. 8 boasts 20 WTA titles and has reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in three of the past five years, including her first Grand Slam final in 2012. Radwanska will make her seventh visit to New Haven.
“It’s always special to return to a tournament as the defending champion,” said Radwanska. “I’m excited to come back to New Haven and play in front of the fans there for the seventh time!”
Navratilova will participate in the Opening Ceremony presented by Yale University before the Monday, August 21 evening session and play in an exhibition doubles match following the 7:00 p.m. night session match. For one of the two sets, Navratilova will play mixed doubles against Mats Wilander, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion. Other celebrity participants will be announced at a later date.
“The Connecticut Open has long supported women’s tennis at the highest level and has continued to attract a stellar field for two decades,” said Navratilova. “I am excited to come play and to help celebrate 20 years of women’s tennis in New Haven.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Aga Radwanska back to New Haven after an amazing run to the title in 2016, and to have Martina Navratilova, one of the greatest players in the history of our sport, headlining our celebration of 20 years of women’s tennis in New Haven,” said Tournament Director Anne Worcester. “Aga is one of most exciting players in the WTA and a fan-favorite on the tour, and Martina is an icon, one of the most important ambassadors in tennis, and the person we know our fans want to see back on court at the Connecticut Open. Between Aga, Martina, Mats Wilander and other WTA stars, it will be an entertaining night for sure.”
Fans who want the best seats to the Navratilova Exhibition and PowerShares Series men’s matches (August 24-25), which will feature Tennis Hall of Famers Michael Chang and John McEnroe along with Fairfield’s James Blake and defending champion Mark Philippoussis, can secure them by purchasing a multiple session package. Packages include Weeklong Box Seats (all 14 sessions), After Hours (every evening session and Saturday finals), Final Four (last four sessions which includes PowerShares Series), and Pick Four Flex (choice of four early round sessions).
Daily tickets for the tournament are now on sale and seating at the Connecticut Open Tennis Center has been renumbered to streamline the ticket-buying process. The 200 and 100 level sections will now replace the Stadium Box and Courtside Box Seats, respectively. In addition to women’s tennis, fans can also look forward to a week-long festival of food, music, and activities such as ShopRite Kids Day (Sunday, August 20), Young Professionals Night (August 22), Superhero and Princess Day/Night (August 23), and United Technologies Military Appreciation Day (August 26).
For more information about the 2017 Connecticut Open and to purchase tickets visit www.ctopen.org