Pat Cash, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors will reprise their epic “Super Saturday” semifinal matches from the 1984 USOpen at PowerShares Series tournaments in Nashville and Charlotte in 2014, InsideOut Sports & Entertainment announced today.
Thirty years after their fabled semifinal confrontations at Flushing Meadows, Cash will play against Ivan Lendl and McEnroe will compete against Connors in semifinal matches at the Champions Challenge on Wednesday, March 12 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., and again on Thursday, March 13 at the Champions Cup at the Time Warner Arena in Charlotte, N.C. Both events are part of the 12-city PowerShares Series tennis circuit for legend tennis players over the age of 30. Each one-night tournament features three matches; two one-set semifinal matches, followed by a one-set championship match.
Cash, Lendl, McEnroe and Connors were leading characters in perhaps the single greatest day in tennis history when on September 8, 1984, they played two thrilling five-set semifinal matches at the US Open in New York that sandwiched Martina Navratilova’s exciting 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 US Open singles final victory over Chris Evert. In the first men’s semifinal, Lendl defeated Pat Cash 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4) – famously saving a match point at 5-6, ad in with a forehand top-spin lob over Cash’s head. After Navratilova’s victory over Evert, McEnroe out-slugged Connors 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the other men’s semifinal, finishing at 11:16 p.m. The following day, McEnroe defeated Lendl 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to win his fourth and final US Open singles title. A YouTube link of Lendl vs. Cash can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX7SbR7jKrE and for McEnroe vs. Connors here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TKUe_OA2ro
“We are really looking forward to recreate these two match-ups from probably the greatest day in tennis history in Nashville and Charlotte 30 years after the original ‘Super Saturday’ at the US Open,” said Jon Venison, Partner at InsideOut Sports & Entertainment. “It will be two nights to remember, full of nostalgia with the competitive juices still flowing among four great champions who will look to rekindle their rivalries and settle some scores.”
Cash was added to the field at both events, replacing Mats Wilander, who was forced to withdraw due to personal reasons.
Tickets for all PowerShares Series events start at $25 and can be purchased at www.PowerSharesSeries.com. Tickets in Nashville and Charlotte can also be purchased at www.TicketMaster.com, TicketMaster locations, at the arena box offices or by calling 800-745-3000.VIP packages for all events are also available at PowerSharesSeries.com, by email to VIP@insideoutse.com, or by phone at 253.315.4299.
McEnroe won seven majors singles titles in his career along with 10 other majors in doubles and mixed doubles. He won the US Open four times and Wimbledon three times and helped the United States to the Davis Cup title five times. He captured 77 career singles titles and 78 career doubles titles, his last being in San Jose, California in 2006 at the age of 47. McEnroe, who will turn 55 on February 16, has continued his fine play, winning numerous champions events around the world in singles and doubles since his final full-time year on the ATP Tour in 1992.
Lendl won eight major singles titles in his career, including three US Open titles during his stretch of reaching the U.S. singles final a record eight straight years from 1982-1989. He reached 19 major singles finals in his career, more than any player in tennis history except Roger Federer. Lendl won 94 career ATP singles titles, which is second all-time. Since January of 2012, Lendl has served as the coach of Andy Murray, guiding him to victories at the US Open, the Olympic Games and Wimbledon.
Connors won eight major singles titles in his career, including five US Open championships. He is the only player in tennis history to win the US Open on three different surfaces (grass, clay and hard) and still owns the record for most ATP singles titles won in a career with 109.
Cash is best known for his triumph at Wimbledon in 1987 where he defeated Ivan Lendl in the final to continue to long-line of Australian men to win the singles title at Wimbledon, joining the likes of Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Roy Emerson, Lew Hoad among others. Cash also was a finalist at the Australian Open in 1987 and 1988 and led Australia to Davis Cup titles in 1983 and 1986.
The full 2014 Power Shares Series schedule with field of players are as follows:
Wednesday, February 5, Kansas City, Sprint Center – Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Michael Chang
Thursday, February 6, Oklahoma City, Chesapeake Energy Arena – Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Michael Chang
Thursday, February 13, Birmingham, Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex – John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, Mark Philippoussis
Friday, February 14, Indianapolis, Bankers Life Fieldhouse – John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Jim Courier, Mark Philippoussis
Wednesday, February 19, Denver, Pepsi Center – Andy Roddick, James Blake, Jim Courier, Mark Philippoussis
Thursday, February 20, Houston, Toyota Center – Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Andy Roddick, James Blake
Tuesday, February 25, Salt Lake City, Energy Solutions Arena – Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, James Blake
Wednesday, February 26, Sacramento, Sleep Train Arena – Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, James Blake
Thursday, February 27, Portland, Oregon, Moda Center – Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, James Blake
Wednesday, March 12 Nashville, Bridgestone Arena – John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors, Pat Cash
Thursday, March 13, Charlotte, Time Warner Arena – John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors, Pat Cash
Friday, March 21, Surprise, Ariz., Surprise Stadium – Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Todd Martin, Michael Chang
ABOUT INSIDEOUT SPORTS + ENTERTAINMENT
InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Champions Series, a collection of tournaments featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including “Legendary Night” exhibitions, charity events and corporate outings. Since inception, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment has have raised over $4 million for charity. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.powersharesseries.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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