WHITE PLAINS, March 28, 2018 (Press Release)
The USTA announced on Tuesday that it will hold a number of community events for tennis players and fans of all ages and abilities in Nashville, Tenn., surrounding the Davis Cup World Group Quarterfinal, creating a week-long celebration of tennis in the city.
Davis Cup will be played at Belmont University’s Curb Event Center in Nashville, April 6-8, on an indoor hard court, where the United States will face Belgium. Davis Cup will come to Nashville for the first time in 40 years, as Vanderbilt University hosted a tie against South Africa in 1978. The U.S. holds a 4-0 record over Belgium in Davis Cup play, last facing the nation in 2005.
Play begins at 4 p.m. CT on Friday, April 6, and Saturday, April 7, and at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 8. Friday will include two singles matches featuring each country’s No. 1 player against the other country’s No. 2 player. Saturday’s schedule features the doubles match, and the final day of play on Sunday features the two “reverse singles” matches, in which the No. 1 players square off, followed by the final match between the No. 2 players. All matches are best-of-five sets until one nation clinches the tie. Sunday will feature a revised schedule if a team clinches in the third or fourth match. Tennis Channel will provide live daily coverage.
Fans can purchase single-day tickets and three-day ticket packages at www.usta.com/daviscup. Volunteer information can also be found on this website.
Community events taking place during Davis Cup Week include:
Tuesday, April 3
Net Generation Kids’ Day and U.S. Davis Cup Team Appearance
12-2 p.m., Centennial Park Indoor Tennis Courts
The USTA and USTA Tennessee will be hosting 40-60 local kids for special Net Generation clinics. Net Generation is the USTA’s new unified youth initiative to inspire the next generation of tennis players. The entire U.S. Davis Cup Team will join to play tennis with the kids from 12:30-1:15 p.m. The Belmont men’s and women’s tennis teams will also take part in this clinic. All kids are pre-selected and part of a local Junior Team Tennis program or Salama Urban Ministries.
Wednesday, April 4
Net Generation Kids’ Clinic at Hadley Park
12-2 p.m., Hadley Park Tennis Center
The USTA and USTA Tennessee will be hosting 30-50 kids at Hadley Park for a special Net Generation clinic.
Thursday, April 5
Davis Cup Official Draw Ceremony, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
12 p.m., Country Music Hall of Fame CMA Theater
Members of the U.S. and Belgium Davis Cup teams, as well as special guests includingTennessee Governor Bill Haslam, will take part in the 2018 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Official Draw Ceremony to determine the player matchups for the competition. This event will be open to the public and include a pre-event concert by Two Story Road, the husband-wife duo of Brandon and Jamelle Fraley, who both attended Belmont. Following the concert, the community will have the unique opportunity to witness the Davis Cup draw, see their favorite tennis players, and watch the team press conferences take place. Doors will open at 12 p.m.
Friday, April 6
Net Generation Community Center Day
2-3 p.m., Belmont University Auxiliary Gym
The USTA and USTA Tennessee will be hosting 80-100 kids from 10 local community centers in Nashville for a special Net Generation clinic. Following the clinic, the kids will be involved in on-court pre-event Davis Cup activities and will then watch the matches at the Curb Event Center.
Saturday, April 7
Net Generation Junior Tournament and Development Camp with former tennis pro Brian Baker
9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Centennial Park Indoor Tennis Courts
The USTA and USTA Tennessee will be hosting 60-80 local kids for two events—a statewide junior clinic and a local junior tournament. Olympian and Belmont alumnus Brian Baker will speak with the kids at 10 a.m. Belmont coaches and players will also be in attendance.
Saturday, April 7
USTA Celebration of Diversity Networking Event
1:30-3 p.m., Backstage at Sinema Restaurant & Bar
The USTA will host a casual brunch/lunch networking event prior to the Davis Cup matches on Saturday afternoon. USTA Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer D.A. Abrams will be in attendance to discuss USTA D&I initiatives and best practices.
Sunday, April 8
Net Generation Junior Team Tennis Day
10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Centennial Park Indoor Tennis Courts
The USTA and USTA Tennessee will host four Junior Team Tennis teams from Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. The teams will compete in a round-robin tournament for a trophy. The four teams will be selected to participate by submitting their “Best Davis Cup Cheer.”
In addition, local kids involved in the clinics will have a special role in the matches as part of the Net Generation initiative. Prior to the matches, kids will play on stadium court as part of a Net Generation demonstration. Local kids will also escort the players during the Opening Ceremony on the match days and participate in the coin toss for each match with the chair umpire and competing players.
Last week, U.S. Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier named world No. 11 Jack Sock, No. 14Sam Querrey, No. 17 John Isner, No. 53 Ryan Harrison, and No. 54 Steve Johnson to the U.S. team.
On Tuesday, Belgium Davis Cup Captain Johan Van Herck named world No. 116 Ruben Bemelmans, No. 327 Joris De Loore, Sander Gille, who is ranked No. 85 in doubles, andJoran Vliegen, who is ranked No. 98 in doubles, to his team.
