Some of the biggest stars in professional tennis brought their talents to Atlanta last Saturday night for the second annual Infinite Energy Atlanta Slam. A thoroughly entertained crowd witnessed the action inside the Arena at Gwinnett Center, which showcased James Blake, Sam Querrey, Bob and Mike Bryan, and Luke and Murphy Jensen.
Before the event kicked off, Blake and the Bryan Brothers offered a tennis clinic to kids between the ages of eight and 16. Following the instructional session, fans of all ages had the chance to attend a VIP Players Party, where the stars signed autographs and posed for pictures.
At 6:30, a night jam-packed with fun and stellar but not-so-serious tennis began with the Jensen Brothers partnering with two wheelchair players for a good-natured doubles clash. Try as they might to steal the show with typical Jensen humor, the Jensens were no match for their counterparts in wheelchairs, who wowed the crowd with spectacular shot-making despite their physical limitations.
Next up were the Bryan Brothers, the No. 2 doubles team in the world and winners of the 2008 U.S. Open. What was billed as a Battle of the Brothers ended prematurely when the Bryans waxed the Jensens, 1993 French Open champions, in a set without dropping a single game. As such, the teams were rearranged for a more competitive second set: Bryan and Jensen vs. Bryan and Jensen.
Afterwards, the Bryan Brothers auctioned off two rackets with which they won the U.S. Open, a hat, and the shirts off their back. The items, all of which would be autographed, went to the highest bidder for a grand total of $2,800. All proceeds (including ticket revenue) benefitted the Georgia Tennis Foundation, a crucial player in the local tennis community. The GTF gives to nine different organizations in an effort to help promote tennis, and according to event coordinator Trevor Short, has helped introduce tennis to over 36,000 children in the form of coaches and equipment.
In between the doubles festivities and the Blake-Querrey singles showdown, former American Idol finalist and Atlanta’s own Michael Johns performed four songs, rocking out to Tom Petty and Rolling Stones tunes in addition to his new Christmas single. “Music and tennis: my two greatest loves,” said Johns, who also did some on-court commentating during the doubles match.
Blake and Querrey, the No. 37 player in the world who stands 6-6 and holds the record for most consecutive aces in an ATP Tour match (10 in a win over Blake), put on a more serious but still very friendly display of tennis during the nightcap. Although the match featured a handful of stunning shots, the event remained more about charity and children than about the tennis on the court.
“The first thing and the most important thing is to have fun,” said Blake when asked what piece of advice he wanted to give kids in the audience. Blake, who spent two years at Harvard University before going pro, also stressed the importance of working hard and getting a good education. “I never counted on being a professional tennis player,” he explained. “It just happened. What I relied on was my mind.”
Dimon can be reached at rdimon@scoreatl.com.
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