By Adam Karon
Daily Bruin Contributor
The Angels and Dodgers usually command most of Southern California's attention during the summer, but this week it will have to share the spotlight with men’s tennis as the City of Angels hosts its only ATP tournament of the year.
The Mercedes-Benz Cup is unlike any other tournament on the tour. It's LA's moment to shine, and Los Angeles is always up to the challenge.
Even the glamorous Hollywood community is getting involved. “A Night at the Net,” a celebrity doubles match in which superstars Andre Agassi and Gustavo “Gaga” Kuerten pair up with Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman and comedian Dennis Miller to raise money for MusiCares, takes place Monday night at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. It is the only professional-celebrity match on the circuit.
“The thing that makes the Mercedes-Benz Cup stand out is that the entertainment is awfully good,” tournament director Bob Kramer said.
The tournament itself will raise money for the nonprofit Southern California Tennis Association (SCTA).
Officials also hope to use the event to increase tennis awareness in the Los Angeles community. Events like Seniors' Day, Kids' Day and Ladies’ Day will help promote tennis in Southern California, while UCLA Day and Bruin Family Night should promote its popularity on the campus.
"We try to showcase tennis in Los Angeles," associate director Khim Stithem said. “We're just trying to reach out to different segments of the community.”
The Pacific Southwest Tennis Tournament, as the Mercedes-Benz Cup/Los Angeles Open was once known, started in 1926 and was held at the Los Angeles Tennis Club in downtown L.A. until 1975.
From that year until 1979 Pauley Pavilion hosted the event. Then in 1982 construction on the LATC, with the Los Angeles Open in mind, started on an asphalt parking lot just west of Pauley Pavilion.
The $7 million project was completed in 1984, just in time for the LATC to host tennis as a demonstration sport in the Los Angeles Olympics. Later that year it hosted its first Los Angeles Open.
From then until now the Los Angeles Open underwent several name changes as the sponsor changed. From 1985-93 it was known as the Volvo Open, from 1995-97 as the Infinity Open, and from 1998 throughout 2001 it will be known as the Mercedes-Benz Cup.
One thing that didn’t change, however, is the tournament’s penchant for attracting star players.
“The is one of the most historical events on the ATP tour,” Kramer said. “All the great champions over the years have played and won here.”
The list of past tournament winners is lengthy and distinguished. Recent winners include Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Michael Chang and last year’s champion, Pete Sampras, who defeated Agassi in a thrilling finals match.
The tournament's history is also filled with big name stars. Jimmy Connors won the tournament four times, Roy Emerson three times, and John McEnroe twice. Former UCLA star Arthur Ashe also won the tournament in its first year held at UCLA in 1975 and again in 1978.
Some stars expected to be at this year’s Mercedes-Benz Cup include Agassi, Marcelo Rios, Thomas Enqvist, Goran Ianisevic and former Bruin Justin Gimelstob.
Agassi, one of the world’s top players, was in a car accident shortly after returning from Wimbledon, and his condition is questionable. As of a week ago, however, he had a hotel room booked in L.A. and still intended to play in the Cup.
Rios is the first South American ever to be ranked No. 1 on the tour. In 1998 he won an ATP tour-best seven singles titles en route to earning over $3 million in prize money. This will be his first appearance in Los Angeles.
“He’s one of the most unpredictable, emotional players on the circuit,” Kramer said.
UCLA's own Justin Gimelstob (’96) should attract plenty of fans to the courts. While at UCLA, he led the 1996 Bruins to the NCAA finals against Stanford. That same year he earned the individual doubles title and placed second in singles. And in 1997 he upset Agassi at the Los Angeles Open.
“When he beat Andre three years ago, he really won a lot of fans over,” Kramer said.
Additionally, UCLA will benefit from the proceeds of the event. Although the university does not charge rent for the use of the LATC, the tournament is expected to gross $3 million and UCLA should receive about $100,000 of the profits.
Fittingly, the money from the past four tournaments and the expected revenue from the next three have paid and will pay for the construction of the Arthur Ashe Health Center.
“It’s a wonderful relationship,” said former assistant chancellor John Sandbrook, who oversaw the building of the LATC and helped arrange the agreement. “We use the profits for the benefit of the UCLA student body.”
This week some of the world’s top players will come to UCLA and battle it out on the courts of the LATC for a Mercedes-Benz championship. They’e coming for a title, for $1 million in prize money, and for a good time.
But it helps that L.A. is simply L.A.
“When you go to other places, Cincinatti or wherever, sometimes that is not as enjoyable as the week in Los Angeles," Sandbrook said. "I think most people like the idea of spending a week in Los Angeles."
And according to Kramer, it helps that UCLA is UCLA.
“It’s a tremendous advantage to be connected to the campus,” he said. “All you have to do is say four letters: U-C-L-A.”
With contributions by Pauline Vu, Daily Bruin Senior Staff