Since the introduction of professional tennis over eighty years ago, Madison Square Garden has been host to some of the greatest matches and biggest names in the sport. Most notably, from 1979-1999, the Garden served as the site for the men’s and women’s year-end tour championships, featuring legendary players including John McEnroe, Billie Jean King, Ivan Lendl, Bjorn Borg, Martina Navratilova and Stefanie Graf.
After an eight year hiatus, StarGames orchestrated the return of professional tennis to the World's Most Famous Arena on March 10, 2008 with the sold-out NetJets Showdown between then World #1 Roger Federer and Grand Slam record holder Pete Sampras.
On the heels of the success of the 2008 event, women’s tennis returned to Madison Square Garden, broadcast live on HBO in 2009 and on ESPN in 2010, as the BNP Paribas Showdown featured each year’s Grand Slam Champions competing for the Bille Jean King Cup.
The Showdown was also made a focal piece of Tennis Night in America, established in 2009, along with the United States Tennis Association's nationwide Youth Registration Night. The two events coincide each year to kickoff the tennis season in the USA by promoting professional and grassroots tennis alike.
In 2012 the Showdown attracted over 18,000 fans with worldclass matches Roger Federer vs. Andy Roddick followed by Maria Sharapova vs. Caroline Wozniacki. The highlights from 2012 were nothing short of unforgettable, from Roddick putting on a comedic performance against Federer, to Sharapova and Wozniacki dancing with the crowd, to #1 world golf player, Rory McIlroy, being called to the court to take on Sharapova. Tennis Night in America had over 2,000 clubs particupate in youth registration night and with names like John McEnroe and actress Christine Taylor promoting the cause, it was sure to be a success.
Over the past five years, the Showdown has produced a series of extraordinary experiences including:
• A once in a lifetime gathering of Grand Slam champions Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Roy Emerson
• A salute to the victorious 2007 US Davis Cup team and captain Patrick McEnroe
• A tribute to Billie Jean King by President Bill Clinton and the unveiling of the Billie Jean King Cup
• The largest one night attendance for tennis in MSG history (19,690)
• The creation of Tennis Night in America
• A performance by Grammy award winning R&B recording artist Gloria Gaynor
• Attendence in 2012 from celebrities Rory McIlroy, Ben Stiller, John Legend Brooklyn Decker, Christine Taylor and Marian Gaborik
