Carlos
Alcaraz,
Ben Shelton,
Jessica Pegula, and
Emma Navarro are ready to compete in
the Garden Cup this Wednesday, an exhibition event in New York. The Madison
Square Garden will host a showdown between the local female stars, followed by
a men’s match featuring the 4-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz against hometown
favourite Shelton.
Upon their
arrival in New York, all four players participated in promotional activities
ahead of the event. In a video shared by Tennis Channel, the players were
asked: "How would you hail a cab in NYC?"
When Pegula
was asked if she would whistle, she replied:
"Can't whistle, that would not go well," she said, laughing. "Big
wave, kinda jumping in the street."
Shelton had
a simpler approach: "Imma give a yooo... I would probably just yell."
Alcaraz and
Navarro also joined the fun in the lighthearted video shared on social media,
which you can watch below.
Players set for the Garden Cup
Despite a
busy schedule, World No. 3
Carlos Alcaraz is committed to two exhibitions in
the U.S. this week, beginning with his clash against Shelton at Madison Square
Garden on Wednesday. Following this, he will travel to Charlotte to face Frances
Tiafoe two days later in what will be his final event of the year.
In an
interview with New York Tennis Magazine a few days ago, Alcaraz invited fans to
attend his match against Shelton:
"I am looking forward to returning to New York on December 4 to play Ben
at Madison Square Garden. Playing in front of the New York fans at The World's
Most Famous Arena will be an unforgettable night," Alcaraz said.
In the
women’s matchup, Pegula and Navarro will face each other in an exciting duel.
In their last appearances in New York, Navarro reached the semifinals of the US
Open, while Pegula made it to the final, with both players losing to current
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
"It’s
so weird. It feels like I was just here," Jessica Pegula told the New York
Post on Tuesday. "My coach was here with me, and he’s like, ‘Oh God, we’re
back.’ … Just the stress and just everything and the chaos of those three
weeks, it’s kind of funny, you feel it instantly coming back to the city."
"It is
[cool] to come back into the city and kind of remember the experience I had at
the U.S. Open," Emma Navarro said. "Putting on a little bit of a show
in a more relaxed atmosphere [at the Garden Cup], I think, is really
exciting."