McEnroe To Skip New Haven

Citing 'personal reasons,' seven-time Grand Slam champ John McEnroe
has withdrawn from the PowerShares event at the Connecticut Open.

NEW HAVEN–Tennis legend John McEnroe has withdrawn from the PowerShares Series Men’s Legends event at the Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies, and will be replaced by Andy Roddick, it was announced today by tournament director Anne Worcester. This will the fourth consecutive appearance in New Haven for Roddick, who was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., last month.

“Unfortunately, I am unable to appear in the PowerShares Series competition in New Haven next week due to personal reasons,” said McEnroe, a Douglaston, Queens native and seven-time Grand Slam singles champ. “I am disappointed not to be able to take part in the 20th anniversary year of the Connecticut Open, but I look forward to being back playing in front of the great fans there soon.”

Roddick will join Fairfield’s James Blake, former French Open titlist Michael Chang, and defending champion Mark Philippoussis in the one-set shoot-out that is an official part of the Powershares Series circuit.

On Thursday, Aug. 24, following the Connecticut Open quarterfinal, Chang will play Blake, and on Friday, Aug. 25, following the semifinal, Roddick will challenge Philippoussis, the defending champion. The winners will then pair off in the finals on Friday night, Aug. 26.

“Andy will be a fantastic addition to our fan-favorite PowerShares Men’s Legends event and we look forward to welcoming him in his Hall of Fame year,” said Worcester. “He’s well known and adored by our fans after competing [here] the last three years, and will provide a tough test for Mark, who was so impressive in winning the 2016 event. We were disappointed to lose John, and hope to see him back in Connecticut soon.”

McEnroe will be replaced by recent Hall-of-Fame inductee Andy Roddick.

Meanwhile, two-time Grand Slam singles finalist and former World No.2 Vera Zvonareva will receive a wild card into the qualifying draw in her first WTA-level appearance since 2015. Americans Kayla Day and Sofia Kenin also received wild cards, with the final announcements coming tomorrow (Thursday).

Worcester also announced that the Connecticut Open will host the Australian wild card play-off for the US Open from Friday through Sunday. It will be a knockout tournament format, with the winner securing the main draw wildcard as part of a reciprocal arrangement between Tennis Australia and the United States Tennis Association.

World No.131 Arina Rodionova heads the eight-player Australian field and will be joined by young talent including Destanee Aiava, Lizette Cabrera and Jaimee Fourlis. Rounding out the draw is last year’s US Open wildcard play-off winner Ellen Perez along with Olivia Rogowska, Kimberly Birrell and Priscilla Hon.

IMG Academy founder Nick Bollettieri, the International Tennis Federation Hall of Fame coach who counts Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Jim Courier and Maria Sharapova among his pupils, will also be on hand for Shoprite Kids Day powered by Net Generation on Sunday, Aug. 20. Bollettieri will sign autographs and speak at the event as part of the IMG Academy’s sponsorship of the tournament.

IMG Academy coaches will spend the week instructing players of all ages on the exclusive IMG Academy practice court adjacent to their booth at the Connecticut Tennis Center, highlighted by a “forehand challenge” with Bollettieri at 3:30 p.m. on Friday Aug. 25.

For more information about the 2017 Connecticut Open, to purchase tickets or to volunteer visit www.ctopen.org

—Staff Reports