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Agassi to Play McEnroe at LA Tennis Open

March 23, 2010

LOS ANGELES — The LA Tennis Open Presented by Farmers Insurance Group today announced a new partnership with the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education (AAFE). To mark the beginning of the partnership, and support the Foundation’s efforts to transform education, Andre Agassi will play John McEnroe in a special one-night exhibition at the LA Tennis Center on Saturday, July 24.

Proceeds from the match between Agassi and McEnroe will benefit the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education. The Foundation operates the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, a K-12 public charter school that strives to provide children with a first-class education, while also advocating increased investment in, and accountability for, public schools nationwide.

“I am excited about and thankful for our ongoing partnership with the LA Tennis Open. They’ve been extremely generous and now with the help of my friend John McEnroe, the Foundation can continue to provide the students at Agassi Prep with all that they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond,” Agassi said.

McEnroe is happy to support Agassi’s initiatives, and is looking forward to playing him again. “I am thrilled about the opportunity to help contribute to education and return to UCLA to play Andre,” he said. “Malibu is my second home, so I know I will have a lot of friends there who will be ready to support me. Playing a match against Agassi is not only exciting but also a big challenge for me. I am working very hard to be ready as this could be the last time I play an event like this in Los Angeles.”

The match between Agassi and McEnroe will be just one part of the evening that will celebrate tennis and entertainment. A full line up of other special guest appearances will be announced in the coming weeks.

Agassi, a four-time LA Tennis Open champion, boasts a 36-7 record all-time at the event, and McEnroe won two titles while compiling a 20-2 record. They played four times on the ATP World Tour, and split those meetings. However, Agassi holds and edge in LA, having won their only match there in 1988 by a score of 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 in the semifinals.

Agassi’s 60th and final career title came in Los Angeles in 2005. He also won the title in 1998, 2001 and 2002, and he is the last player to successfully defend his LA title. He is an eight-time champion at Grand Slam events.

McEnroe claimed the LA Tennis Open title in 1981 and 1986. During his career, he won 77 singles and 78 doubles titles, including seven singles and nine doubles championships at Grand Slam events.

“Andre and John are among the greatest champions not only of our event, but in the history of the sport,” said Tournament Director Bob Kramer. “We look forward to them both returning to a place where they had great success during their careers and helping us begin what promises to be a great partnership between the LA Tennis Open and the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education.

Main draw play for the 84th annual LA Tennis Open Presented by Farmers Insurance Group will begin on Monday, July 26, and conclude with the singles final on the afternoon of Sunday, August 1. The 2010 tournament has commitments from World No. 2 Novak Djokovic, reigning US Open champion and World No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro and defending LA champions Sam Querrey, who also won the 2009 Olympus US Open Series, and the Bryan Brothers.

Ticket pricing information as well as the on-sale date for the Agassi-McEnroe match will be announced soon. LA Tennis Open Presented by Farmers Insurance Group season and mini-plan ticket holders will have an exclusive opportunity to purchase tickets to the July 24 event before tickets go on sale to the public.