From world-class tennis to activities around the grounds, the 2014 Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies was one to remember. Here, we look back at the moments that won’t soon be forgotten.
Kvitova Wins Again
Second seed and World No. 4 Petra Kvitova did not drop a set at the 2014 Connecticut Open, rolling to her second title in the past three years in New Haven. The Czech was especially dominant in deciding sets, defeating her second round through semifinals opponents 6-1 in the second frame. The two-time Wimbledon Champion now holds a 12-2 overall record at the Connecticut Open and becomes only the third player to win multiple titles in New Haven, along with four-time winners Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki.
Guys Night Out
The men took center stage on Wednesday and Thursday night, as Fairfield native and two-time Connecticut Open Champion James Blake invited former World No. 1’s Jim Courier and Andy Roddick to New Haven for the Men’s Legends Event. Some booming forehands and plenty of laughs were on display on Stadium Court, as Blake took on Courier on Wednesday followed by a tilt against longtime friend Roddick on Thursday.
A Word from our Sponsors
With 60 sponsors, half of which are headquartered in Connecticut and 20 newly-added partnerships for this year, sponsorship was surely on the rise at the 2014 Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies. The list of new sponsors based in Connecticut was led by three Fortune 500 companies; United Technologies (Lead sponsor, Hartford), Frontier Communications (Platinum, Stamford), and Starwood Hotels & Resorts (Hospitality sponsor, Stamford). Long-time Cornerstone sponsors Yale University, Yale New Haven Hospital, Aetna, American Express and First Niagara continued their strong commitment to the tournament. For more info about Connecticut Open Sponsorships, click HERE.
Enjoying the Scenery
Fans looking for a break in the action could find plenty of options in the plaza, featuring several eateries, live-music and sponsor booths. Patrons flocked to Aaron May’s Lobster Shack for a Connecticut-style lobster roll, dined on Venezuelan flair at Valencia Luncheria, ordered baked potatoes with all the trimmings at Spuds Your Way, and dunked a classic-style grilled cheese in heirloom tomato gazpacho at Caseus Cheese Truck. Combined with toe-tapping musical performances on the Connecticut stage and fun-filled activities at many sponsor booths, the 2014 Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies provided a truly world-class atmosphere in a small-town setting.
Social Splash
From Caroline Wozniacki, Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep dumping ice cold water on tournament director Anne Worcester for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to players answering a series questions about the new words added to the online version of the Oxford Dictionary, social media videos generated more than 115,000 views, and interaction with fans was at an all-time high. Check out all our videos HERE.
Something for Everyone
Tournament attendance was up this year for the first time since 2005 with more than 47,140 fans pouring through the gates. In addition to world-class tennis, the event featured plenty of off-court activities and philanthropic efforts around the grounds, such as the star-spangled Military Appreciation Night presented by United Technologies; the Closer to Free Spin Bike Ride which generated $25,000 for Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven; and the Emirates Returns Program which capped off summer-long inner city youth tennis and education programs.
See you all August 21-29, 2015!