NEW HAVEN--On Tuesday, dignitaries, big-time tennis stars and food trucks gathered for the Connecticut Open media conference.
But the bottom line for the open: filling seats is important--daily tickets went on sale today for the August event, including for the legends matches, which will bring Andy Roddick, John McEnroe, and local favorite James Blake to the court for charity.
When asked who intimidates him the most between Jim Courier, Roddick and McEnroe, Blake said: "Well mentally? McEnroe cause he just berates you still."
But it's not just the players and legends that will bring excitement to the Connecticut Open.
A new initiative that does more than just fill the seats at the tennis center, called the 50/50 Project, is designed to give back to the community. The project offers the chance for nonprofits to sell tickets as a fundraiser and receive 50 percent of the net proceeds from each ticket sold.
According to Anne Worcester, the tournament director, "Budgets are being slashed everywhere. We heard it loud and clear for a new fundraising vehicle, but we wanted to create something that was turn key for them."