What is Garden Cup as New York WTA billionaires Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro join Carlos Alcaraz in MSG exhibition
The $9 million made in prize money this year was not enough for Carlos Alcaraz. The four-time Grand Slam champion is in New York ahead of his exhibition match against Ben Shelton at the prestigious Maddison Square Garden where he will be looking to bank another cheque. The four tennis stars pose with their custom Knicks jerseys Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz sit courtside at a New York Knicks game Three of the sport’s biggest names – Ben Shelton, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro – will also compete in the Garden Cup, an exhibition with a reported $1million in prize money up for grabs in the tennis office season as tennis returns to the iconic venue for the first time since 2018. 21-year-old Alcaraz has had the best year of his career winning two Grand Slams as he defended his Wimbledon title after securing the French Open for the first time. The Spaniard is not new to world class exhibitions after he competed in the Netflix Slam against Rafael Nadal earlier in the year. For Shelton, the 22-year-old has had a strong year as he won another ATP title in Houston and has made over $2.2 million in prize money in 2024. The American is yet to top the best moment of his career so far, reaching the semifinals of the US Open in 2023 before he fell to eventual winner Novak Djokovic. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to play at Madison Square Garden, one of the most iconic venues in the world,” Shelton told the New York Tennis Magazine. “New York has always been a special place for me, and I can’t wait to play in front of an electric New York crowd with Carlos. It’s going to be an incredible experience playing in front of a packed house!” On the women’s side of the card, the American pair Pegula and Navarro are set to face off against each other. 23-year-old Navarro is ranked eighth in the world, one below compatriot Pegula and both have had incredible years. The pair are also known for their families vast wealth, with Pegula’s father Terry worth a reported $7.7bn according to Forbes, and owner of the Buffalo Bills alongside hie wife Kim having earned his fortune through natural gas resources. Jessica Pegula with her runners up shield. Navarro’s father, Ben, is an investment banker and the owner of Credit One Bank. His estimated fortune comes in at $1.5bn according to Forbes. Pegula reached the US Open finals where she was beat by the no.1 in the world Aryna Sabalenka but the 30 year-old earned $1.8 million for reaching the final alone. Meanwhile Navarro had a breakout year winning her first WTA title in January along with reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon before reaching the semi-finals of the US Open. Playing in New York will be a full circle for moment for Pegula as she is from Buffalo, N.Y. With her parents the owners of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. “As a New York tennis player you dream of playing in the US Open final and playing at Madison Square Garden. To be able to do both in one year just shows dreams can come true,” Pegula said. “Really looking forward to coming back to New York and playing Emma in front of the best fans in the world.” Serena and Venus Williams were the last tennis headliners at Maddison Square Garden in 2018 and so with four-time Grand Slam young champion Alcaraz set to play today, world class tennis at the Garden is back. The tournament starts at 12:00 GMT and 7.pm ET tonight.
The $9 million made in prize money this year was not enough for Carlos Alcaraz.
The four-time Grand Slam champion is in New York ahead of his exhibition match against Ben Shelton at the prestigious Maddison Square Garden where he will be looking to bank another cheque.
Three of the sport’s biggest names – Ben Shelton, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro – will also compete in the Garden Cup, an exhibition with a reported $1million in prize money up for grabs in the tennis office season as tennis returns to the iconic venue for the first time since 2018.
21-year-old Alcaraz has had the best year of his career winning two Grand Slams as he defended his Wimbledon title after securing the French Open for the first time.
The Spaniard is not new to world class exhibitions after he competed in the Netflix Slam against Rafael Nadal earlier in the year.
For Shelton, the 22-year-old has had a strong year as he won another ATP title in Houston and has made over $2.2 million in prize money in 2024.
The American is yet to top the best moment of his career so far, reaching the semifinals of the US Open in 2023 before he fell to eventual winner Novak Djokovic.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to play at Madison Square Garden, one of the most iconic venues in the world,” Shelton told the New York Tennis Magazine.
“New York has always been a special place for me, and I can’t wait to play in front of an electric New York crowd with Carlos. It’s going to be an incredible experience playing in front of a packed house!”
On the women’s side of the card, the American pair Pegula and Navarro are set to face off against each other.
23-year-old Navarro is ranked eighth in the world, one below compatriot Pegula and both have had incredible years.
The pair are also known for their families vast wealth, with Pegula’s father Terry worth a reported $7.7bn according to Forbes, and owner of the Buffalo Bills alongside hie wife Kim having earned his fortune through natural gas resources.
Navarro’s father, Ben, is an investment banker and the owner of Credit One Bank. His estimated fortune comes in at $1.5bn according to Forbes.
Pegula reached the US Open finals where she was beat by the no.1 in the world Aryna Sabalenka but the 30 year-old earned $1.8 million for reaching the final alone.
Meanwhile Navarro had a breakout year winning her first WTA title in January along with reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon before reaching the semi-finals of the US Open.
Playing in New York will be a full circle for moment for Pegula as she is from Buffalo, N.Y. With her parents the owners of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres.
“As a New York tennis player you dream of playing in the US Open final and playing at Madison Square Garden. To be able to do both in one year just shows dreams can come true,” Pegula said.
“Really looking forward to coming back to New York and playing Emma in front of the best fans in the world.”
Serena and Venus Williams were the last tennis headliners at Maddison Square Garden in 2018 and so with four-time Grand Slam young champion Alcaraz set to play today, world class tennis at the Garden is back.
The tournament starts at 12:00 GMT and 7.pm ET tonight.