On Sunday, December 7, the Prudential Center in Newark will host its first-ever professional tennis event, marking a major milestone for the venue. Titled “A Racquet at The Rock,” the evening will feature two high-profile exhibition matches showcasing some of the sport’s brightest stars.
Star-Studded Matchups Set the Stage
The night opens with a compelling women’s match between Amanda Anisimova, the 2025 Wimbledon finalist and New Jersey native, and Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion. Following that, Carlos Alcaraz, a five-time Grand Slam winner, will face Frances Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semifinalist. Both matchups are structured as best-of-three sets, with a 10-point tiebreaker deciding the third if needed.
Players Share Their Excitement
Alcaraz expressed enthusiasm about returning to the metropolitan area, noting the energy and passion of local fans. Tiafoe echoed the sentiment, highlighting the competitive spirit he shares with Alcaraz. Anisimova, thrilled to play in her home state, described the opportunity as deeply meaningful, while Raducanu looks forward to facing one of the top players in the game.
Presale and Fan Experience
Presale access begins Monday, September 8 at 12pm, offering fans the chance to secure seats for what promises to be an unforgettable night. The Prudential Center will open its doors at 4:30pm, with matches starting at 5:30pm. Attendees can also enjoy the newly renovated Prudential Lounge before the event begins.
A Bold Step for Tennis Entertainment
“A Racquet at The Rock” represents a bold move to expand tennis into new venues and audiences. With top-tier talent and a dynamic format, the event is poised to become a highlight of the winter sports calendar and a celebration of tennis excellence in the heart of New Jersey.
Frances Tiafoe in 2025
Currently the world no.17, the American played his last match on the 29th of August when he lost to world no.144 Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 6-3 7-6(7) in the 3rd round of the U.S. Open (draw).
Currently, during this season Tiafoe has an overall 26-19 win-loss record. Frances Tiafoe’s most significant result of the current season was getting to the final in Houston.
Alcaraz at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2025
Now the world no.2, the Spaniard has managed to achieve a compiled 59-6 record in 2025. Alcaraz is playing at the U.S. Open where he overcame the world no.67 Reilly Opelka 6-4 7-5 6-4, the world no.65 Mattia Bellucci 6-1 6-0 6-3, the world no.34 Luciano Darderi 6-2 6-4 6-0, the world no.82 Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(3) 6-3 6-4 and the world no.21 Jiri Lehecka 6-4 6-2 6-4.
Carlos Alcaraz will face the world no.7 Novak Djokovic in the semifinal on Friday at 3:00 pm on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The head to head is 5-3 for Djokovic.
Carlos clinched 6 titles in 2025 in Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo, Rome, French Open, London and Cincinnati. Alcaraz reached the final in Barcelona (Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell) and in Wimbledon.
The Spaniard won 23 titles in his career: 6 on hard courts, 11 on clay courts, 2 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Frances Tiafoe and Carlos Alcaraz fought against each other 3 times. The head to head is 2-1 for Alcaraz.