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2024 MGM Macau Tennis Masters

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[10 December 2024, Macau] The stage is set for an electrifying showdown at the 2024 MGM Macau Tennis Masters, which will host Asia’s first mixed-gender team format tournament featuring two legendary tennis stars as captains. Over two thrilling days—24th and 25th December—major finalists, 1000-level champions, and Chinese national stars will battle it out in a festive celebration unlike anything Macau has seen before.

This year’s tournament promises to be a unique blend of sports and holiday cheer, as the event celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau SAR, as well as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with an extraordinary showcase of top tier tennis action. In this exciting new format, tennis legends and Hall of Famers Li Na and Michael Chang will each captain a team of three stars from the ATP and WTA Tours.

Team Li Na will comprise of rising Chinese stars Shang Juncheng and Wang Xinyu, alongside Norwegian Casper Ruud. On the opposing side, Chang will guide an equally formidable trio featuring world-class players Andrey Rublev, Karolina Muchova, and Lorenzo Musetti.

“This is going to be a lot of fun and excitement,” said Luiz Carvalho, Tournament Director and IMG Senior Vice President. “We have such a fantastic line-up of players, and having two absolute legends and household names like Li Na and Michael Chang leading the teams makes this event even more special.

“Each day of play will begin at 1 pm, starting with the Captain’s Challenge, which promises to be a unique highlight of the event. We’ll share more details about how the Captain’s Challenge will work closer to the time, but I can say that both captains are thrilled about it, and fans are going to love the experience.”

 

On Tuesday, 24th December, the action kicks off with the Captain’s Challenge at 1 pm and will be followed by the first men’s singles, in which Casper Ruud will take on Lorenzo Musetti. Their head-to-head record currently stands at 1-1, setting the stage for a fascinating battle. That will be followed by Shang Juncheng facing off against Andrey Rublev. The two have clashed once before on the regular tour, with Rublev coming out on top in Hong Kong. Closing out Day 1 will be an exciting mixed doubles encounter, as Shang partners with Wang Xinyu to face Rublev and Karolina Muchova.

On Christmas Day, the first match following the Captain’s Challenge will see Wang Xinyu take on Karolina Muchova, with the latter holding a 1-0 lead in their official head-to-head. Next up will be another intriguing men’s singles encounter, as Casper Ruud faces Andrey Rublev. Their rivalry tilts in Rublev’s favour, with a head-to-head record of 5-3. The final match of the event will be a blockbuster clash between Shang Juncheng and Lorenzo Musetti. Shang leads their tour-level series 1-0, having triumphed over the Italian in the Chengdu Open final earlier this year.

“I think it will be a tremendous few days at MGM Macau Tennis Masters, and I am really looking forward to it while trying to come up with a plan against Michael’s team,” Li Na said. “I’m excited to have two great Chinese players, Juncheng and Xinyu, on my side, and to have someone like Casper with us is going to be great.”

Chang, widely recognised during his playing days as one of the quickest thinkers on the court, will undoubtedly have his strategic acumen tested in this unique format.

“We will be ready for whatever comes our way from Li Na and her team,” Michael Chang said. “I am thrilled with the players I have, and I know they will give it everything they’ve got. My players have enjoyed plenty of success in Asia and have felt comfortable playing here, so we are up for the challenge.”

The format for the 2024 MGM Macau Tennis Masters promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats over the two days of play. Matches will be contested in a best-of-three sets format, with a super tiebreak deciding the final set if needed. Each of the two Captain’s Challenge matches will be worth one point. On Day 1, the three other matches will award two points for a win, while on Day 2, the stakes will be higher, with three points up for grabs in each match. At the conclusion of the second day, the team with the highest total points will be crowned the MGM Macau Tennis Masters champions.

Co-organised by MGM and IMG, the “2024 MGM Macau Tennis Masters” is honoured to have the support of the Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government, Macao Government Tourism Office, and the Macau Tennis Association, together with our distinguished partners, including the official outfitter FILA, official airline Eva Air and the official water Bonaqua.

Tickets for the two-day tournament are available through www.MGM.mo and www.Damai.cn. Daily tickets are priced from MOP180 to MOP580 for VIP seats. Two-day passes start from MOP250 up to MOP1,000 for VIP seating.

For more information, please visit the official event website at www.MGMMacauTennis.com.

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Super Bowl Opening Night Kicks Off in New Orleans as Chiefs & Eagles Gear Up for the Big Game

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NEW ORLEANS, La. (FNN SPORTS) – Super Bowl week officially kicked off Monday night as the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles took center stage at Super Bowl Opening Night in New Orleans. Florida National News sports team was on-site at the Superdome, capturing all the excitement and exclusive player insights.

A standout moment from the night featured Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez, who had Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sign a pillow with Mahomes’ own face on it, adding a fun twist to the media frenzy.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts answers media questions during Super Bowl Opening Night on Monday, February 3, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. (Photo: Florida National News / J. Willie David III)

FloridaNationalNews.com conducted interviews with players and coaches from both teams, with quarterbacks sharing their thoughts on the highly anticipated Super Bowl 59 matchup.

With Opening Night wrapped up, teams have returned to their bases to continue preparation. The next major media event arrives Thursday with the Super Bowl pregame and halftime show press conference. Fans can expect appearances from headliner Kendrick Lamar, along with Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, Lauren Daigle, and Ledisi, as they gear up for an electrifying halftime performance.

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J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

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A Lim Kim Wins 2025 LPGA Season Opener Over Nelly Korda; Joe Pavelski Takes Celebrity Title

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ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The 2024 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions brought together 32 of the LPGA’s top players and a star-studded lineup of celebrities at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. The event featured two prize purses: a $2 million purse for LPGA professionals and a $500,000 purse for celebrities.

 

A Lim Kim Claims Victory with Dominant Performance

A Lim Kim, the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open champion, secured a two-stroke victory over World No. 1 Nelly Korda, earning her second career LPGA title and taking home a $300,000 winner’s prize.

  • Kim shot a final-round 67 (-5), sinking a nearly 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to seal the win.
  • She led the field in birdies (24) and was the only player to shoot all four rounds in the 60s (65-69-67-67).
  • Kim also excelled in par-5 scoring, a key factor in both this victory and her 2024 LOTTE Championship win.
  • Her 72-hole score of 268 tied her career-low, matching her performance at the 2022 CPKC Women’s Open.
  • This marks Kim’s second wire-to-wire win, making her the first player since Hyo Joo Kim (2023) to win wire-to-wire without ties.
  • She also secured victory in her first tournament with new caddie Bruce Lowe.

Nelly Korda Finishes Runner-Up

World No. 1 Nelly Korda mounted a strong challenge with a final-round 65 (-7), but ultimately fell two strokes short.

  • Korda recorded nine birdies and two bogeys on Sunday.
  • She tied Kim for most birdies in the tournament (24).
  • With this result, she notched her best career finish at the HGVTOC and fifth top-4 finish at the event.

Other Notable Finishes

  • Linn Grant (-3, 69) finished in solo third, her best LPGA finish since the 2024 Dana Open.
  • Minjee Lee shot a career-low 10-under 62 on Sunday, moving from T12 to T4.
  • Defending champion Lydia Ko (-13) finished solo sixth after recovering from three early bogeys.

Joe Pavelski Wins Celebrity Division

Recently retired NHL All-Star and Olympian Joe Pavelski made a statement in his HGVTOC debut, winning the celebrity division with 145 points under the Modified Stableford format.

  • Pavelski edged out 2024 champion Jeff McNeil by five points to claim the $100,000 first-place prize.
  • Asterisk Talley, 15, won the amateur field with 149 points, playing from the same tees as LPGA professionals.

Looking Ahead

With a commanding wire-to-wire performance, A Lim Kim has established herself as a force to watch in 2024. Nelly Korda, Linn Grant, and Minjee Lee will look to build on their performances as the LPGA season continues.


J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

 

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Osceola Magic Extend Winning Streak to Four with 113-104 Victory Over Delaware Blue Coats

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WILMINGTON, Del. (FNN SPORTS) – The Osceola Magic (7-6) powered past the Delaware Blue Coats (6-10) with a 113-104 victory on Sunday afternoon, extending their winning streak to four games. A dominant Colin Castleton led the charge with 22 points and 13 rebounds, delivering an ultra-efficient performance by shooting 10-of-12 from the field.

Magic’s Defense Stifles Delaware’s Offense

Despite Jeff Dowtin Jr. leading the Blue Coats in scoring with 21 points, the Magic’s relentless defense held him to an inefficient 7-of-24 shooting from the field. Jarron Cumberland added 19 points for Delaware, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Osceola’s second-half surge.

Balanced Scoring Fuels Magic’s Win

Alongside Castleton’s stellar performance, Mac McClung stepped up in the starting lineup, contributing 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three-point range.

The Magic’s bench played a pivotal role in the victory, with Jarrett Culver delivering 17 points on an impressive 70% shooting. The Texas Tech standout also recorded six rebounds and three steals, providing a crucial spark off the bench.

What’s Next for Osceola Magic?

The Magic will face the Blue Coats again on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at Chase Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Osceola will then return to Kissimmee on Sunday, Feb. 9, for a home game against the Grand Rapids Gold at 3 p.m. ET, airing on FanDuel Sports Network Florida and NBA TV.

Black History Month Celebration

The Magic will host a special Black History Month Celebration, presented by Publix, on Monday, Feb. 10, against the Grand Rapids Gold. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, with the game airing on FanDuel Sports Network Sun and NBAGLeague.com. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a replica Black History Month Magic jersey.

 

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