The Garden Cup is back, and tennis fans couldn’t be more thrilled! The iconic Madison Square Garden is ready to transform into a tennis battlefield this Wednesday, with a star-studded lineup featuring Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Jessica Pegula, and Emma Navarro. It’s not just a match—it’s an extravaganza, promising jaw-dropping rallies, electric energy, and pure entertainment. But here’s a twist: while the buzz is at an all-time high, tennis hasn’t graced this legendary venue for quite some time. So, when was the last time the Garden roared for a tennis match, and how are Venus Williams and Serena Williams related to it?

The Madison Square Garden is known for its rich tennis history. The action first began at the venue in 1968 where the Madison Square Garden Open tennis championship was organized until 1970. It also became a home to the Virginia Slims Championship, between 1977 and 2000, and the Masters Grand Prix, or the current ATP Finals between 1977 and 1989.  But the venue started to gain the spotlight even more since 2008.

MSG was known for featuring stars like Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro, and Kim Clijsters who featured at annual exhibitions, known as the BNB Paribas Showdown from 2008-17. In 2018, the venue hosted the Tie Break Tens and was the last time when a tennis professional tennis match was witnessed here.

For the unversed, when MSG organized its last tournament six years ago, it witnessed participation from one other Venus Williams and Serena Williams who dazzled the courts in style and left the fans mesmerized. However, they failed to clinch the title and it was Elina Svitolina who returned home with the glorious crown. Hence, the return of the sport to this iconic venue is indeed special. 

The Participation from the likes of Alcaraz, Shelton, Pegula, and Navarro has also proved that tennis in New York is not just limited to summer as the enthusiasm of players and fans is top-notch throughout the year. Now, while only time will tell who returns with a title at the sport’s once-perennial venue the excitement is definitely at its peak for all the players. 

Ben Shelton and Jessica Pegula shared excitement to play at Madison Square Garden

The rich legacy that the Madison Square Garden holds for tennis enthusiasts is undeniable and cannot be questioned. Hence, playing at the venue is indeed a remarkable moment for all four players. The excitement was in fact visible in the words of Ben Shelton and Jessica Pegula who expressed their joyfulness for playing at the venue. 

Expressing his excitement for the match, Shelton took to his Instagram and wrote, “What’s up, guys? This is Ben. I just wanna let you know that I’m playing the Garden Cup tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden. Go check out Tennis Night Out if you want updates on the matches and what time it’s gonna start. See you!” Sharing another picture featuring all the players, Shelton insisted the tennis fans remain excited and wrote, “Need this same energy at MSG again tonight,” Similar sentiments were reflected by Pegula too.

“As a New York tennis player, you dream of playing in the US Open final and at Madison Square Garden. To be able to do both in one year shows that dreams can come true. I’m really looking forward to coming back to New York and playing Emma in front of the best fans in the world,” Pegula said highlighting the importance of the venue. Now, while the winner of the title will be known in some time, the Garden’s rich tennis history and the dazzling roaster definitely promise it’s going to be a night to remember.