Tennis Canada To Honor Pete Sampras, Billie Jean King and Derek Strang

Written by: Staff on 17th July 2013

Tennis Canada To Honor Pete Sampras, Billie Jean King and Derek Strang

epa02942773 US tennis star Pete Sampras serves the ball to former world number one Marat Safin of Russia during an exhibition match to inaugurate the new Tennis China Open center court in Beijing, China, 30 September 2011. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL |

Tennis Canada announced that Billie Jean King, Pete Sampras and Tennis Canada chief operating officer Derek Strang will be inducted into the Rogers Cup Hall of Fame during the 2013 Rogers Cup presented by National Bank in Toronto in recognition of their contribution to Canada’s premier tournament.

King will be inducted in a Centre Court ceremony held during the Wednesday evening session on August 7. while Sampras will be inducted in a similar ceremony on Saturday, August 10 prior to playing his Rogers Legends Cup match against John McEnroe, a 2007 inductee. Strang’s induction will take place in a private ceremony amongst friends and family.

While in Toronto, King will also be participating in a special Women’s Executive Event presented by Haagen-Dazs and Xerox. A first-of-its-kind affair at Rogers Cup, the Women’s Executive Event will host 50 of the top female leaders in the city for a panel discussion about diversity and equality with three women who have made an indelible mark in this area globally. The panel, moderated by WTA Chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster, will feature King and Xerox president and CEO Ursula Burns, the FORBES No. 14 most powerful woman in the world. Xerox is currently the WTA’s biggest sponsor.

The success of Rogers Cup over the years has been in large part thanks to the efforts of Strang. Retiring this year as Tennis Canada’s Chief Operating Officer after three decades with the organization, Strang’s footprint is all over the event. He was one of the most significant figures in the opening of Rexall Centre, Toronto’s world-class stadium that opened in 2004, as he led its development, design, and construction. He also played a considerable role in the re-build of Uniprix Stadium in Montreal. In addition, recognizing the need for more indoor facilities across the country in order to grow tennis nationally, he also championed the National Facility Advocacy Committee, which has helped to bring numerous projects to fruition.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Billie Jean King, Canadian tennis news, Derek Strang, Pete Sampras, Rogers Cup, Rogers Cup Hall of Fame, Tennis Canada

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July 17, 2013 at 8:24 am

Tennis Canada To Honor #PeteSampras , Billie Jean King and Derek Strang – http://t.co/ZLRwIE2z0N @Tennis_Canada @BillieJKing @CoupeRogers