The highly anticipated MGM Rewards Slam is just around the corner, taking place on March 1-2 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena, nestled within the vibrant Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. With World No. 1 Jannik Sinner stepping out due to a three-month suspension following the resolution of his doping case with WADA, it’s Casper Ruud who will make an appearance, stepping in to fill his shoes.
For this thrilling tennis weekend, Ruud, the pride of Oslo, Norway, and currently ranked No. 5, joins an impressive lineup. He’ll face off against World No. 2 Alexander Zverev and two talented Americans, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, in a gripping four-player round-robin. They’ll be battling it out using 10-point tiebreakers, and the top two will advance to the Championship Tiebreak in pursuit of the men’s iteration of the Lion’s Cup.
Having clinched 12 ATP singles titles over his decade-long career, Ruud is no stranger to the pressures of the court. In September 2022, he reached a career-high, becoming the highest-ranked Norwegian in history when he hit No. 2 worldwide. A disciple of Rafael Nadal’s play, having trained at Nadal’s acclaimed academy, Ruud famously faced his idol at the 2022 French Open finals, making quite the statement despite the loss. With career earnings topping $23 million, his peers recognized him with the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award in 2022—an honor befitting his grace and skill on the court.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s highlight sees World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka take on the iconic former No. 1 Naomi Osaka for the prestigious Lion’s Cup. Sabalenka, hailing from Belarus, brings her formidable prowess as a three-time Grand Slam singles champion, while Osaka, representing Japan, boasts four Grand Slam trophies herself, with memorable back-to-back victories at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Australian Open.
On the docket for Sunday is an intense showdown as American Reilly Opelka and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard compete in “The Ace Challenge Presented by Michelob ULTRA,” vying for the fast-serve supremacy title.
For those eager to witness the action live, tickets are available through axs.com, with single-day passes starting at $55 and two-day options from $127.50, excluding service fees and charges. It’s set to be a tennis spectacle that fans won’t want to miss!
