The PowerShares Series, the tennis circuit for champion legends over the age of 30, has just announced that former World #1 Andy Roddick, former World #1 Jim Courier, former World Top 10 James Blake, and former World Top 10 Mardy Fish will play at the International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 23, 2017.
Andy Roddick was the top American tennis player for nearly a decade. He finished nine consecutive seasons in the Top 10 in the ATP rankings and reached No.1 in the rankings in 2003. Roddick, best known for his powerful serve, won the 2003 U.S. Open and reached 4 other Grand Slam Finals.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
+In 2000, Roddick won two Junior Grand Slam Titles, the Junior Australian Open and the Junior U.S. Open.
+He won the 2003 U.S. Open, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets.
+In the 2009 Wimbledon final, one of his most memorable matches, Roddick held serve 37 consecutive games before falling to Rodger Federer in 5 sets.
+He achieved World No.1 ranking in November 2003. Andy held the No.1 spot for 13 weeks.
+During the 2004 Davis Cup Semifinals, Roddick hit the fastest recorded serve in history (at the time), 155 miles per hour.
+36 Career Titles – 32 in singles; 4 in doubles
In the early 90s Jim Courier dominated the men’s professional tennis circuit with a game he fashioned out of grit, determination and a punishing insideout forehand. He was the first in his class – which included Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi – to hold the No. 1 world ranking. In 2005, Jim was elected for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
+In 1989 he won his first ATP Tour title in singles (Basel) and doubles (Rome, with Pete Sampras) at age 19.
+He captured his first Grand Slam in 1991 at the French Open, beating Andre Agassi in the first all-American final at Roland-Garros since 1954.
+He achieved World No.1 ranking in 1992 and was named ATP Tour player of the year.
+He won a total of four Grand Slam titles (two French, two Australian).
+Jim played on two winning U.S. Davis Cup teams 192 and 1995). His overall record is 17-10 in 14 ties. In the 102-year history of the Davis Cup, no other American has ever taken his team into a fifth set of the deciding match and won. Courier did it twice.
+Jim has finished with the No.1 ranking on the PowerShares Series 4 times (2000, 2008, 2009 and 2012). +29 career titles – 23 in singles; 6 in doubles.
James Blake began playing tennis as a member of the Harlem Junior Tennis Program at age 5. As a child, he had to overcome severe scoliosis which forced him to wear a back brace 18 hours a day. Blake, best known for his speed and powerful forehand, reached 3 Grand Slam quarterfinals and, in 2006, became the first African-American player since Arthur Ashe to reach the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
+In 2002, he won his first ATP title in singles (Washington) and doubles (Cincinnati, with Todd Martin).
+Blake reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinals at the 2005 U.S. Open. He also reached the quarterfinals at the 2006 U.S. Open and the 2008 Australian Open.
+He finished the 2006 season at No. 4 in the ATP Rankings and as the No. 1 American for the first time in his career.
+In 2007, Blake’s 5-2 singles record helped the U.S. win the Davis Cup title.
+Blake finished 4th at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
+17 Career Titles – 10 in singles; 7 in doubles
Mardy Fish is a former world no. 7 and U.S. number 1 singles player. He reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinals at the 2007 Australian Open, knocking off the 4th seed Ivan Ljubicic before losing to Andy Roddick. Fish reached 3 Grand Slam quarterfinals, the 2004 Olympic final and won 14 career ATP titles.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
+In 2002, Fish won his first ATP Tour doubles title at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships playing with Andy Roddick.
+In 2008, Fish defeated World no. 1 Rodger Federer at the Pacific Life Open before losing to Novak Djokovic in the final.
+He reached the quarterfinals of the 2008 US Open before losing to Rafael Nadal.
+In 2011, Fish reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, beating the 2010 finalist Tomas Berdych in straight sets.
+Fish won a silver medal in Singles at the 2004 Olympics.
+14 Career Titles – 6 in singles; 8 in doubles.
The 2017 PowerShares Series is a competitive tennis circuit featuring legendary tennis icons and world-renowned champions Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Michael Chang, James Blake, Mardy Fish, Marat Safin, and Mark Philippoussis. The 12-city tour of one-night tournaments is played in major arenas during March and April 2016. Each tournament features 4 Champions paired off in one set semi-finals and culminates with the winners meeting in a one-set championship match.
