McEnroe To Face Connors In World TeamTennis Match This Summer

Online, April 6, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Two American tennis legends will renew their long-time tennis rivalry this summer, when Hall of Famers John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors square off in a World TeamTennis match on July 14 at SPORTIME Randall's Island. The pair will play singles and doubles against each other that night when the defending Eastern Conference Champion New York Sportimes face the Philadelphia Freedoms.

The evening will be a special benefit for The Johnny Mac Tennis Project, with tickets sold by the Project to raise funds to provide scholarships, coaching, transportation and other financial assistance to qualified young tennis players in the greater New York area. Recipients will attend the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, which is completing its first year at SPORTIME Randall's Island. Ticket prices for the match will be $250, $150, $80, and $20; please consult your tax advisor concerning the tax deductibility of ticket purchases. Tickets can be purchased by calling 212-792-8500.

"We are thrilled that our team captain Johnny Mac will get to renew one of the greatest rivalries in the history of tennis when he competes against Jimmy Connors on this special WTT night for charitable purposes. I am sure that some sparks will fly, but the biggest winners on July 14 will be the young athletes who will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the money that the Project raises," said Claude Okin, CEO of SPORTIME Clubs and the New York Sportimes WTT franchise. "In its heyday, their rivalry produced some of the greatest theater in professional sport, and we are sure this night will bring back lots of memories for all in attendance. This event will be a highlight of a 2011 season of World TeamTennis action here at SPORTIME in NYC and also in Albany, where we will play two home matches. This is all made possible through the Host Sponsorship of the USTA Eastern Section. It is going to be a great season!"

"It is always fun to play Jimmy, and I don't think either of us has lost our competitive fire. We both love to put on a show, and in the WTT format, we should be able to turn back the clock a bit," said McEnroe. "Anyone who knows me knows that I work hard to stay in shape and to try and compete well every time I step on a tennis court. But with the opening of my Academy at SPORTIME, my number one goal is to do my part to help grow American tennis and to make some great players right here in New York City. The match on July 14 is all about helping locals who have great talent but who otherwise could not afford the right training and support. And, of course, I do plan to get a couple of wins that night."

I'm excited to be part of World TeamTennis again and to play against John in New York City," said Connors. "There's always something special about playing John, especially in front of a New York crowd. Add that to the intensity of a World TeamTennis match and it's a great environment for both the players and the fans.

"Billie Jean and Ilana have supported me throughout every stage of my career so WTT has been a big part of my tennis life for a long time" said Connors who first played World TeamTennis during the League's inaugural season in 1974. "I love the format and I'm looking forward to being on a team again."

Connors and McEnroe met 34 times during the ATP portion of their storied careers, with McEnroe leading the series 20-14. They spilt their Grand Slam singles finals matchups, with Connors winning at Wimbledon in 1982 (3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4), and with McEnroe prevailing in 1984 (6-1, 6-1, 6-2). They last met in an ATP event in Basel, Switzerland in 1991, with McEnroe winning 6-1, 6-3.

The July 14 WTT matchup will feature Connors and McEnroe competing against each other in both men's singles and men's doubles in the five set WTT format. Former World No. 1 Martina Hingis will also play for the New York Sportimes that evening as McEnroe's fellow team member; they will be joined by former British No. 1 player Katie O'Brien and talented Americans Robert Kendrick and Jesse Witten.

In other 2011 WTT matches, the Sportimes will host the Boston Lobsters on July 6 with Martina Hingis leading the Sportimes squad; the Sportimes will take on the St. Louis Aces starring Anna Kournikova and Lindsay Davenport on July 11; the Springfield Lasers come to NYC on July 15, with John McEnroe and Martina Hingis playing for New York; Kim Clijsters will pair with Martina Hingis to play for the Sportimes when they take on the Washington Kastles on July 20. In addition to the home matches at the state-of-the art, 2,000 seat facility at SPORTIME Randall's Island, the Sportimes will play two home matches in Albany, N.Y. at the SEFCU Arena: July 18 versus Kansas City starring the World No. 1 Bryan Brothers, and July 19 when Kim Clijsters and the Sportimes take on the Washington Kastles.

ABOUT SPORTIME RANDALL'S ISLAND AND SPORTIME
SPORTIME
Randall's Island, located beneath the RFK Bridge in Manhattan, is the flagship of SPORTIME's chain of 13 tennis and sports clubs in New York State, and was selected as "2010 Indoor Tennis Facility of the Year" by The American Sports Builders Association. SPORTIME Randall's Island is an expansive, state-of-the-art, facility, developed by SPORTIME under the auspices of the Randall's Island Sports Foundation. The 160,000 square foot, $19 million facility opened in 2009 and is one of the largest indoor tennis facilities in North America.

In addition to its 20 indoor/outdoor har-tru and deco-turf courts, and world-class training facilities, SPORTIME Randall's Island is home to the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, which opened this past September, 2010. The JMTA eclipsed its original enrollment goals and now has over 500 first year students, with a staff of over 30 tennis professionals and coaches from around the world. The Academy offers world-class tennis training, while supporting its students in living at home and leading a balanced lifestyle, including education and team sports. Offering private club amenities and concierge level member service, SPORTIME is also fully accessible to the general public for hourly and seasonal court use, indoors and out. It is one of the most unique public/private sports facilities in the United States, built with 100% private funds on public land, at no cost to taxpayers.

The Johnny Mac Tennis Project, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation whose charitable and educational purpose is to expose young athletes in the greater New York metropolitan area to high level, competitive tennis by raising public and private funds in order to provide scholarships to attend a non-residential tennis academy/training facility, to obtain lessons and to fund the costs and expenses associated with travel to regional, national and international tournaments and on-site coaching at such tournaments.

For more information on the facility, the John McEnroe Tennis Academy or the NY Sportimes, visit www.SportimeNY.com/Manhattan or www.JohnMcEnroeTennisAcademy.com.