The 14th annual Tennis and Music Festival is slotted for the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. on Aug. 29. On the tennis side of the day’s events, former U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova will appear as will several of today’s tennis greats. The full-day event kicks off the 2009 U.S. Open which runs Aug. 31-Sept. 13.
Of course, kids rule at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. From 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., families can check out interactive tennis games, music and attractions. There’s also the popular SmashZone, a fan fest that runs in the National Tennis Center’s new indoor facility from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Music, comedy and tennis come together at the live stadium show scheduled for 1 p.m. through 4 p.m., with this year’s Kids’ Day promising music performances from Sparks, Honor Society and Usher protégé Bieber and exhibition matches and skills competitions featuring Ferrell, Roddick and many celebs and top tennis players.
This year’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day will again bring together some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment for a fun-filled day for all ages,” USTA Chief Business Officer Pierce O’Neil said. “Additionally, this year’s event will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the National Junior Tennis and Learning network, a program that Arthur Ashe co-founded in an effort to bring the sport of tennis to economically diverse audiences throughout the country.”
Tickets for the stadium show are available through Ticketmaster, Usopen.org and at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box office. General admission promenade tickets are priced at $10 and loge tickets will run you $20 each.
A portion of the proceeds benefits the National Junior Tennis and Learning network. For more information, please click here for the U. S. Open’s Web site.