Farmers Tennis Classic Pro Men’s Tournament at UCLA (July 25-31, 2011) Preview/Info/Tickets
LOS ANGELES – The excitement and action at the 2011 Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, will not be limited to the tennis courts. There are a number of appealing special events lined up to enhance the fan experience during the week.
The 85h annual tournament takes place July 25-31 at the LA Tennis Center on UCLA’s campus featuring ATP World Tour stars Juan Martin del Potro, Mardy Fish, Fernando Gonzalez, Marcos Baghdatis, James Blake, Lleyton Hewitt, Dmitry Tursunov, Janko Tipsarevic, Xavier Malisse and Kei Nishikori, among others who are scheduled to play.
Off the court, key events are planned throughout the week, including:
An Evening with Betty White – Friday, July 22; 8 p.m. at Royce Hall
America‘s sweetheart Betty White will entertain with her comedy while also looking back through the decades of her illustrious career. The evening will be hosted by actress Wendy Malick.
USTA Member Appreciation Day – Monday, July 25, 2 p.m.
USTA Members with a valid ID will get one free Loge ticket to Monday’s session. In addition, members can visit the USTA booth in the Market Place for a gift and a voucher for $10 to use at the Food Court.
Healthy Aging Day – Wednesday, July 27, Noon
Belmont Village Senior Living presents an expert panel along with a lunch, prizes and a ticket to the day’s matches.
Kids Day – Thursday, July 28 at 9:30 a.m.
Tennis clinics with ATP World Tour stars, games, prizes and more followed by a ticket to the afternoon session and free ice cream!
Fashion Day – Friday, July 29 at 10:30 a.m.
An adidas fashion show, make-up demonstrations by Pixi, lunch with culinary tips from Lemonade Executive Chef Alan Jackson and a wine tasting are part of the event that also includes a ticket to the afternoon’s quarterfinal session.
In addition to these special events, patrons will be able to enjoy a wide array of food and drink options on-site, including a fine dining experience at The Summer House by Jackson Catering as well as offerings from California Pizza Kitchen, Lemonade, Senor Tenistas and Sunset Grill.
The Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, is an Olympus US Open Series and ATP World Tour event. It will once again be played to benefit the programs of the Southern California Tennis Association. In 2010, the tournament and associated special events raised more than $500,000 for the SCTA and other charities.
ABOUT THE FARMERS CLASSIC PRESENTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ The Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, has been played every year since 1927, making it the longest-running annual professional sporting event in Los Angeles. Played since 1984 at the LA Tennis Center on the campus of UCLA, the tournament is part of the Olympus US Open Series, the six-week summer tennis season linking 10 ATP World Tour and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour events to the US Open, culminating each week with back-to-back men’s and womens finals every Sunday afternoon. Players battle for $40 million, including a chance for bonus prize money at the US Open. Proceeds from the Farmers Classic Presented by Mercedes-Benz benefit the grassroots programs of the non-profit Southern California Tennis Association (SCTA) and UCLA. The SCTA offers programs, leagues, and tournaments involving 300,000 juniors and 50,000 adults and seniors. Information on tickets and the tournament can be found at www.FarmersClassic.com or by calling 310-824-1010.