TENNIS TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE CONNECTICUT OPEN TENNIS & ENTER THE CONTEST TO WIN A GREAT VACAY

Written by: Staff on 22nd June 2016

TENNIS TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE CONNECTICUT OPEN TENNIS & ENTER THE CONTEST TO WIN A GREAT VACAY

epa05384082 Britian's Johanna Konta in action against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their third round match at the Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Britain, 22 June 2016. EPA/GERRY PENNY |

US OPEN FINALIST ROBERTA VINCI, TOP-RANKED BRIT JOHANNA KONTA AND FORMER WORLD NO. 1 JELENA JANKOVIC COMMIT TO 2016 CONNECTICUT OPEN PRESENTED BY UNITED TECHNOLOGIES

Purchase Connecticut Open Tickets by June 29 and be Entered to Win a Three-Night Stay for Two In the Beautiful Islands of Antigua and Barbuda

US Open Finalist Roberta Vinci, top-ranked British player Johanna Konta and former World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic have committed to play the Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies, a WTA event that is part of the Emirates Airline US Open Series to be held August 19-27, 2016 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale, it was announced today by Tournament Director Anne Worcester.

The tournament also announced that fans who purchase tickets for the 2016 tournament by June 29 will be automatically entered in a sweepstakes to win a three-night stay for two at the Carlisle Bay Resort and Spa in Antigua and Barbuda. Fans who have already purchased tickets will be automatically entered. For more information about the sweepstakes, and terms and conditions, please visit http://www.ctopen.org/TicketsAndTravel/antigua/.

Vinci, currently ranked No. 7 in the world, made an inspiring run to last year’s US Open finals highlighted by the upset of the season in the semifinals by defeating World No. 1 Serena Williams who was chasing the calendar year Grand Slam. The top-ranked Italian has used the momentum to produce an impressive 2016 campaign, defeating Ana Ivanovic and Belinda Bencic to win the crown in St. Petersburg and earning quarterfinal appearances in Brisbane and Doha. Vinci returns to New Haven for the fourth consecutive year and seventh overall.

Konta began her 2016 season ranked No. 48 in the world but a strong first half of the year currently positions the Englishwoman at No. 18. Konta produced a magical performance at the Australian Open, bouncing four-time Connecticut Open Champion Venus Williams, and Ekaterina Makarova before losing to eventual-champion Angelique Kerber in the semifinals. The Englishwoman also produced strong efforts in Miami and Indian Wells, posting quarterfinal and Round-of-16 showings, respectively. Konta makes her second appearance in New Haven and first in the main draw.

Former World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic returns to New Haven for the first time since 2011 and fourth in her career. The Serb has won 15 WTA singles crowns, reached the finals of the 2008 US Open and has posted semifinal appearances at the French and Australian Opens. Jankovic has also enjoyed success in 2016, making the semifinals at Mallorca and Round-of-16 at Indian Wells.

Serbian Jelena Jankovic during the semifinal match against Latvian Anastasija Sevastova at the Mallorca Open 2016 played at Santa Ponsa court in Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, 18 June 2016. EPA/ATIENZA

The trio of players join a field that includes newly-minted top 10 ranked star Madison Keys. The American captured the title last week in Birmingham, catapulting her to a new career-high ranking and her first appearance in the top 10. In addition, three-time and defending Champion Petra Kvitova, four-time Champion Caroline Wozniacki, and Americans Sloane Stephens and Shelby Rogers are also committed to the event.

“The addition of Roberta, Johanna and J.J. to the strong list of players already announced, including Caroline Wozniacki, Petra Kvitova, Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens and Shelby Rogers, proves that the Connecticut Open and New Haven is where the best players want to be heading into the US Open,” said Worcester. “We are also excited to offer our ticket-buying fans a chance to win a trip to a premier destination, the Carlisle Bay Resort and Spa in Antigua and Barbuda, a great addition to their summer vacation plans.”

In addition, four of the best male American tennis players of all time, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, James Blake and Mardy Fish, will compete in a PowerShares event – the circuit for champion tennis players over the age of 30 – at the 2016 Connecticut Open. The Connecticut Open Men’s Legends Event, which began two years ago, has become an official part of the PowerShares Series for 2016. This year’s event will feature an all-new format consisting of a total of three matches. On Thursday, August 25, following the women’s quarterfinal, McEnroe will play Blake, and on Friday, August 26, following the WTA semifinal, Agassi will battle Fish, with the winners of each matchup competing in a final later that night. The men’s matches will be one set each.

For more information about the 2016 Connecticut Open, including multi-session packages, weeklong box seats, sponsorship packages, hospitality and becoming a volunteer, visit www.ctopen.org or call 203-776-7331. Daily tickets for the tournament are now on sale.

About Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies

Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies is owned by the State of Connecticut and is a not-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization. The event has always existed to give back to the community, and has always been much more than just a tennis tournament; it is a leading example of leveraging a large-scale international sporting event to generate millions of dollars in regional economic impact and build community pride, spirit and engagement, especially among youth. The women’s-only WTA event will be held August 19-27, 2016 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale, and features five different competitions including WTA qualifying, WTA singles, WTA doubles, Men’s Legends, and the US Open National Playoffs Championship. The Connecticut Open is prominently featured domestically on ESPN2 and is also broadcast in 160 countries around the world. For more information about the tournament and tickets, visit www.ctopen.org or call 1-855-464-8366.

About United Technologies

United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit our website http://www.utc.com/ or follow us on Twitter: @UTC https://twitter.com/UTC.

Topics: Connecticut Open, Tennis News