Andre Agassi to face Sergi Bruguera in Olympic Gold Medal rematch on July 31
ATLANTA, April 29, 2016 – Even retirement will not stop former World No. 1 tennis player Andre Agassi from a rematch of his 1996 Olympic gold medal play versus Spaniard Sergi Bruguera. The match will take place Sunday, July 31 at 7:30pm as part of the BB&T Atlanta Open at Atlantic Station.
“The 1996 Olympic Games were a defining moment for the city of Atlanta when it came to sports and put Atlanta on an international stage,” said Eddie Gonzalez, Chief Business Officer and Tournament Director for BB&T Atlanta Open. “To bring back two champions like Andre Agassi and Sergi Bruguera to a re-match of their 1996 gold medal match may be the most unique tennis event of 2016!”
Agassi, the face of tennis during a career that stretched more than two decades, won all four Grand Slam titles, including the U.S. Open twice and the Australian Open four times. Agassi has stated that tennis was his destiny, and he had assumed from a very young age that he was going to be a tennis professional. At 46 (his birthday is today April 29), Agassi is the definition of someone who achieved that dream in American Sports: He won eight Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal and is one of just seven male tennis greats to achieve a Career Grand Slam (winning an Australian Open, French Open, US Open, and Wimbledon).
Agassi looks forward on his return to Atlanta. “I’ve always loved playing tennis in Atlanta.
Whether it be an ATP World Tour event or the 1996 Olympics, Atlanta has some of the best tennis fans and they brought out the best in me over my career, ” said Agassi. “To have another chance to play Sergi and relive a special Olympic moment this summer is something I’m looking forward to experiencing.”
Agassi’s opponent, two-time French Open champion Sergi Bruguera commented, “ It will be special to have another chance to play Andre in Atlanta, the city where we played the Singles Gold Medal Final at the 1996 Olympics,” said Bruguera. “I’m looking forward to having a shot at a rematch and re-visiting the city of Atlanta.”
The BB&T Atlanta Open has welcomed over 250,000 fans to Atlantic Station over the past six years, establishing itself as one of the top ATP tennis events in the US. Tickets for the 2016 BB&T Atlanta Open can be purchased at http://www.bbtatlantaopen.com/
Said Gonzalez, “We are proud to have two great champions on our Stadium Court at Atlantic Station as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Atlanta hosting the Olympic Games.”
About the BB&T Atlanta Open
The BB&T Atlanta Open is held each year in July in Atlantic Station and is one of eight summer tournaments in the Emirates Airline US Open Series. The tournament features men’s top world tennis players in singles and doubles competition. Approximately 40,000 fans attend the tournament and bring an estimated economic impact of $10.3 million to Atlanta. John Isner holds the 2015, 2014 and the 2013 titles. Andy Roddick won his last ATP World Tour title when he defeated Gilles Muller at the 2012 BB&T Atlanta Open. Mardy Fish holds the title for 2011 and 2010.
About GF Sports
After the successful completion of the BB&T Atlanta Open in August 2015, GF Sports, LLC, a newly formed integrated event content company, formed by the New York-based financial management company GF Capital Private Equity Fund, and its founder Gary Fuhrman, along with long time sports executive, Jerry Solomon and his Lynnfield-based company, StarGames acquired the tournament. GF Sports has committed to reinvigorating the BB&T Atlanta Open brand and bringing aWorld Class Field-World Class Fun to many local, regional and national tennis fans for years to come.
About the Emirates Airline US Open Series
Now in its 12th season, the Emirates Airline US Open Series continues to serve as a true regular season of hard court tennis, linking eight summer tournaments to the US Open. In 2014, Serena Williams won the US Open and Emirates Airline US Open Series women’s title for the second consecutive year, earning a record tennis paycheck of $4 million. Rafael Nadal (2013), Roger Federer (2007) and Kim Clijsters (2005) also accomplished the feat of winning the Emirates Airline US Open Series and US Open singles title within the same year. www.emiratesusopenseries.com.