The Prudential Center in Newark hosted the inaugural edition of A Racquet at the Rock on Sunday, December 7, captivating fans with a lineup that included World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz alongside American stars Frances Tiafoe, Amanda Anisimova, and Jessica Pegula. The event brought together top talent in an exhibition format that combined competitive spirit with entertainment.
Singles drama unfolds
Frances Tiafoe stunned Alcaraz in a gripping singles showdown. The American took the opening set 6-3 before Alcaraz responded with a 6-3 win in the second. The match was decided by a 10-point tie-break, where Tiafoe held his nerve to secure a 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 victory. Pegula also delivered a comeback performance against Anisimova. After dropping the first set 3-6, she rallied to win the second in a tie-break and edged the decider 10-8.
Mixed doubles spectacle
The mixed doubles contest paired Pegula with Alcaraz against Tiafoe and Anisimova. Played in a single 10-point tie-break format, the match featured entertaining rallies and sharp exchanges. Pegula and Alcaraz ultimately prevailed 10-8, adding another highlight to the evening.
Exhibition fever in the US
A Racquet at the Rock was the third exhibition event in just five days across the United States. The Charlotte Invitational on December 4 featured Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Venus Williams, and Madison Keys. The Atlanta Cup followed on December 6, bringing Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka, Ben Shelton, and Nick Kyrgios together. Newark’s showcase on December 7 continued the streak, with two more exhibitions scheduled for December 8 to keep fans engaged.
A memorable debut
The Newark event underscored the growing popularity of exhibition tennis in the US, blending competitive matches with fan-friendly formats. With Tiafoe and Pegula emerging victorious in singles and Alcaraz shining in doubles, the night offered a mix of drama, skill, and entertainment that delighted the crowd.
Frances Tiafoe in 2025
LLLWLLWWLW At the moment ranked no.30, Frances played his last match on the 3rd of October when he surrendered to world no.103 Yannick Hanfmann 6-7(9) 6-2 6-1 in the 2nd round in Shanghai (draw).
This season the American has achieved an overall 26-23 win-loss record. Frances Tiafoe’s most significant result of this year was getting to the final in Houston.
He is also scheduled to play in Brisbane (Brisbane International). The main draw will start on the 29th of December.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2025
LWWWWLWWWW Currently ranked no.1, Alcaraz played his last encounter on the 16th of November when he lost to world no.2 Jannik Sinner 7-6(4) 7-5 in the final in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
At the moment, during this season Alcaraz has managed to achieve a 71-9 match record. Alcaraz conquered 8 titles in 2025 in Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo, Rome, French Open, London, Cincinnati, U.S. Open and Tokyo. Carlos was the finalist in Barcelona, Wimbledon and the Nitto ATP Finals.
Frances Tiafoe and Carlos Alcaraz fought against each other 3 times. Their head to head is 2-1 for Alcaraz.
