The ATP and WTA Tours told the tournament they should bring to Maddison Square Garden where the atmosphere would be ‘crazy’

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The ATP and WTA tours have been told to play a tournament at one of the most iconic arenas in the world.

Former player Rennae Stubbs is keen to see an event held at New York’s Madison Square Garden following the action that unfolded there this past Wednesday.

Carlos Alcaraz took on Ben Shelton while Jessica Pegula faced Emma Navarro in an exhibition event known as the Garden Cup.

After watching the action unfold, Stubbs likes what she saw and has pleaded with tennis tours for it not to be a one-off.

Rennae Stubbs calls for more tennis action at Madison Square Garden

For the first time in six years, Madison Square Garden hosted some tennis action. Pegula and Navarro produced a tight affair, with Navarro edging the first set on a tiebreak.

The US Open semi-finalist went on to defeat Pegula, who reached the final at Flushing Meadows, 7-6, 7-5, and was presented with a gold trophy post-match.

The sold-out crowd was thoroughly entertained by the action on court, as a match tiebreak was needed to separate Alcaraz and Shelton in the second match.

Shelton won the first set, before Alcaraz proceeded to win the second. It was the Spaniard, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, who prevailed 4-6, 6-2, 10-7.

“I miss playing tennis tournaments in Madison Square Garden,” she said on self-titled Rennae Stubbs podcast. “We played the WTA Finals there for a number of years.

“My first couple of years I played the WTA Finals, when I was a baby, was at Madison Square Garden. It was unbelievably successful, the atmosphere was great.

“We always had great crowds, doubles or singles, it didn’t matter. People came and they showed up. Even the atmosphere in particular when Ben and Carlos were playing, the crowd goes nuts.

“The atmosphere there is awesome. I’m like please can we bring an event back there. It’s crazy. The ATP or WTA Finals one year should be there. Clearly you have to find the sponsorship I get it, but surely!”

Which other tennis tournaments have been held at Madison Square Garden?

The only professional ATP Tour and WTA Tour events to have taken place at Madison Square Garden are the season-ending events for each circuit.

From 1977 to 1989, the ATP Finals was also hosted at the ‘World’s most Famous Arena’ before the event moved to Germany.

ATP Finals winners at Madison Square Garden

In 1977 and then from 1978 to 2000, the WTA Finals was held in Madison Square Garden before moving to Munich in Germany.

WTA Finals winners at Madison Square Garden