Prudential Center Set To Host First Ever Professional Tennis Event

For the first time in its nearly 20-year history, Prudential Center will be home to professional tennis.

On Sunday, December 7, four of tennis’ brightest stars and best entertainers will become the first ever to compete inside the Prudential Center as part of the inaugural A Racquet at the Rock event.

The marquee matchups will feature 2025 Wimbledon and US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova facing off against 2024 U.S. Open finalist and sixth-ranked Jessica Pegula, followed by a clash between six-time Major Champion, Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his US Open Championship and new World Number One ranking, battling against two-time US Open Semifinalist Frances Tiafoe.

“Once you get these players adjacent to those white lines, the competitive juices start flowing, and while they will absolutely have fun with the fans and with each other, they will still dip into their bag of tricks and hit some of the most amazing shots you’ll ever see in your life,” said Dylan Wanagiel, the Vice President of Sports Properties & Special Events for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. “It’s very rare to be able to be this up close and personal with the likes of these players, and competitive tennis, artistic shot making and powerful serves that have to be seen up close to believe.”

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) prides itself on being in the “big event business”, so the idea of bringing in the first tennis event in Prudential Center history was a no-brainer. Unified Events, an organization that HBSE partners with for primarily soccer events, approached Wanagiel and his team about its involvement and tennis, and discussions immediately began on bringing a premier tennis event to New Jersey.

“In the 18-plus years that Prudential Center has been open, there hasn’t been a professional tennis event held, so we were very excited to connect with our promotional partner, Unified Events, to make this happen,” said Wanagiel. “It was the exact type of marquee event we’re always looking to bring here to Newark, and I have to give credit to IMG, who represents most of the players and handles tennis operations for the event. These are big names, and global stars.”

While the Prudential Center hasn’t hosted tennis yet, it has plenty of experience hosting major events. On Friday evening, the New Jersey Devils host the Las Vegas Golden Knights, and on Saturday night, the building will host Mega Bash 2025.

There is a lot of work that goes into converting the facility from a hockey game one night, to a concert the next, and then a premier tennis event the following day, but Prudential Center’s staff is up for the challenge.

“While we would love to have a full load-in day to get it ready, the concert the night before won’t be fully loaded out until about 3:00 a.m. on Sunday at the earliest, so that’s when our crew, along with the IMG crew, will hit the ground running to get ready for tennis,” said Wanagiel. “It’s a first for us, and we have a team of experts coming in to work in conjunction with our building staff to get the court up and running. But we are very accustomed to those overnight load-ins, and sometimes we’ll have the Devils and Seton Hall basketball play on the same day. So while this will be a new challenge for us, we’ve spent a couple of months preparing for this, and we feel confident in our plan.”

In addition to the world-class on-court entertainment, a unique aspect of A Racquet at the Rock will be honoring its New Jersey roots, and commemorating the legendary career of Althea Gibson.

A longtime resident of East Orange, Gibson went on to win five major singles championships and became a powerful symbol of progress and possibility. Gibson’s influence continues to be felt locally. Newark’s Branch Brook Park is home to both a bronze statue in her honor and the Althea Gibson Tennis Courts, a 20-court facility named by Essex County to inspire the next generation of athletes.

To honor her extraordinary legacy, each participating player at ‘A Racquet at The Rock’ will receive a custom commemorative plaque bearing Gibson’s name as a tribute to her lasting impact on the sport and the state she once called home.

“We wanted to give something to the players that they would cherish, and would be different from what they normally receive,” said Wanagiel. “It’s a plaque honoring Gibson and something they can display in their homes for someone who really deserves the spotlight.”

A Racquet at The Rock will mark a first in the two-decade history of the Prudential Center, and will be an incredible evening of entertainment for tennis fans and non-tennis fans alike.

“I’m really excited about it. It’s been a long time since I got out on court with Frances, and I’m looking forward to putting on a good show, making some highlights, and we’re going to entertain the people for sure,” said Alcaraz. “The crowd there is always great. The energy and the love from the fans, it’s always a warm welcome. I’m always grateful for that, and I can’t wait to get out on court with Frances…Being able to watch the women play as well, some of the best on the women’s [side], it’s going to be a fun day with a lot of interesting matches.”

Tickets for ‘A Racquet at The Rock’ are on sale NOW!  Tickets are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com, Prucenter.com, and Prudential Center’s Box Office. For Premium seating opportunities, visit prucenter.com/premium.

Various exclusive VIP packages will also be available for purchase, including the Courtside Club seating package. This package includes all-inclusive Food and Beverage (beer, wine, and soft drinks) in the Prudential Lounge from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Additional beverage options available for purchase. The offer includes a photo opportunity with select players; availability may vary. Full details will be emailed to purchasers before the event.