Defending Champ Radwanska Commits, Navratilova To Participate in CT Open

By Kristine M. Phillips

Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska has committed to participate in
the 2017 Connecticut Open. This will be the Polish star's seventh visit
to New Haven. 

NEW HAVEN – Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska has committed to play the 2017 Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies. The tournament, which this year celebrates the 20th year of women’s participation, will be played from August 18-26 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale. The 28-year-old Radwanska is currently ranked No. in the world. Last year, she stopped Petra Kvitova, who was looking for her record-tying fourth championship in the tournament, in the semifinals before defeating Elina Svitolina in the championship match. This will be her seventh appearance in New Haven.

In addition, 18-time grand slam singles champion Martina Navratilova will participate in the Opening Ceremony prior to the Mon., Aug. 21 evening session, and play in an exhibition doubles match following the 7 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 immortal Navratilova will appear to celebrate
20 years of women's tennis in New Haven.

"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, a naturalized American citizen who, along with Ivan Lendl, led a wave of great Czech tennis players in the 1970s. “I am excited to come play and to help celebrate 20 years of women’s tennis in New Haven."

Radwanska has won 20 WTA singles titles and two doubles championships, reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in three of the past five years, including her first Grand Slam final in 2012. This will her seventh visit to New Haven.

"It's always special to return to a tournament as the defending champion,” said Radwanska, who lives in Krakow, Poland, the city of her birth. “I'm excited to come back to New Haven and play in front of the fans there for the seventh time."

Tournament director Anne Worcester expressed her delight in the defending champ committing to the main draw, as well as extending a warm welcome to Navratilova, one of the greatest women’s players ever to grace the court. Navratilova’s rivalry with Chris Evert was instrumental in women’s tennis developing into the sport it is today, just as the rivalry between Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe proved to be a boon to the men’s game.

“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 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.”

Hall of Famer John McEnroe (left) and Fairfield native James Blake, always
a crowd favorite, will participate in the PowerShares Series men's event.

Tickets for all of the events connected to the Connecticut Open, including the Navratilova exhibition and PowerShares Series men’s matches (Aug. 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, are available 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).

In addition, daily tickets for the tournament are now on sale. As always, in addition to world-class tennis, many businesses in New Haven will participate in a week-long festival of food, music, and activities such as ShopRite Kids Day (Sun., Aug. 20), Young Professionals Night (Aug. 22), Superhero and Princess Day/Night (Aug. 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 or by calling 203-776-7331

—with staff reports