All eyes are currently on Charlotte as some of the biggest stars of the tennis world are all set for a faceoff in an event unlike any other! Charlotte Invitational brings a wave of tennis hype to the ‘Queen City’. Four superstars have already arrived in Charlotte to take part in this mega event which kick starts at the Spectrum Center at 7 pm ET on Friday, December 6. ATP stars, Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe will face each other in just a few hours from now. Who are the other two players taking part in this exhibition tournament?

Well, on the women’s side, we’re all set to witness a heavyweight clash between two of the biggest stars in American tennis. Sloane Stephens will take on Madison Keys! Sloane Stephens won her eighth WTA Tour singles title this year at the Rouen Open and the Florida native will be keen to finish the year on a winning note. Interestingly, her opponent in this match, Madison Keys also won her eighth title this season. She won the title in Strasbourg and guess what? Keys didn’t even drop a set in this tournament! So, fasten your seatbelts to witness this exciting all-American clash.

Sloane Stephens recently shared highlights from her visit to Charlotte, North Carolina ahead of this mega event. She even posted a clip of the local team’s custom jerseys including those of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and the MLS’s Charlotte FC. Both Stephens and Kyes were also spotted unveiling a new tennis court in West Charlotte. Madison Keys also sat down for an exclusive interview with Channel 9 sports reported DaShawn Brown. During the interview, she spoke about her passion for making the sport available to everyone.

“Tennis has brought so much into my life. My goal has been I want to get as many kids playing tennis as possible because I think it opens so many doors and I think it opens so many doors other than just playing pro tennis,” said Madison Keys. What does Carlos Alcaraz think of this tournament in this beautiful city? Well, earlier this year, during an interview, we heard Carlos Alcaraz say, “I am appreciative for the opportunity to compete in the Charlotte Invitational this December. Fans can expect an incredible night and we look forward to providing an unforgettable experience for all in attendance!” Talking about unforgettable experiences, well, he surely offered one along with Ben Shelton at the Madison Square Garden.

Carlos Alcaraz had a wonderful time in New York

Just a few days ago, Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Navarro won The Garden Cup at the Madison Square Garden by defeating Ben Shelton and Jessica Pegula respectively. Alcaraz defeated Shelton by 4-6,6-2,1-0 and shortly after this win, he was heard saying, “I’m trying to make the people enjoy watching tennis. I hope the people enjoyed the match, and that’s what I try to do every time.” Both Alcaraz and Shelton are good friends, and they were spotted having a fun time on the court last time.

Just before the start of the tournament, both Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz attended an NBA match between the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic. They enjoyed their time over there and after that; they brought those good vibes to the tennis court! The atmosphere was quite electrifying inside the Madison Square Garden and these two made the event even more enthralling with their energetic presence on the court. During the match, they share quite a few hilarious moments. For example, there was an instance when Carlos Alcaraz was seen saying he is doing his best but it’s not easy to return Ben Shelton’s fiery serves.

Later on, Shelton was also seen issuing a little apology to the Spaniard for putting him on the receiving end. Then there was another moment when the Spaniard was spotted hilariously ‘beating up’ the American after Shelton slipped over during an electrifying rally. It happened when Carlos Alcaraz forced Ben Shelton to come to the net and extend his entire body, leaving him on the ground while returning the ball. Although, Shelton managed to get to the ball but Alcaraz won that point with an easy hit. 

Fans inside the stadium looked a bit concerned seeing Shelton on the floor. However, a few seconds later, Carlos Alcaraz was seen rushing to the other side to help Shelton get up on his feet. Both of them burst out in laughter after this hilarious moment. The Spaniard then jokingly imitated ‘beating’ Shelton. So, there was full entertainment in this match! Are we going to see the same in his clash against Frances Tiafoe in Charlotte? We’ll have to wait a bit to get this answer, though!