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Music, Show Review, Tennis

MAX & Quinn XCII, Ava Max, Meg Donnelly, Austin Mahone & Top Tennis Stars Rock Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the US Open

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The US Open is officially underway in New York City!  The annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day on Saturday kicked things off with a day full of games, music, and of course tennis.  Kids of all ages enjoyed activities around the grounds like face painting, balloon artists, dance offs, juggling, and of lots of chances to test their tennis skills!

The AAKD show inside Arthur Ashe Stadium featured performances by some of the hottest names in music along with appearances by tennis stars like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Sloane Stephens.  The event is in celebration of tennis legend and humanitarian Arthur Ashe and promotes the USTA’s flagship program, the National Junior Tennis and Learning Network (NJTL), which Ashe co-founded.  Players from local NJTL chapters had the chance to show off their skills on court in a series of agility and tennis drills.

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The show was co-hosted by Radio Disney’s Morgan Tompkins, Meg Donnelly, and JD McCrary.  Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing JAGMAC kicked off the show with a high energy performance that set the tone for the whole show.  They definitely brought the party with them!  We’re sure you’ll be seeing much more of them in the future!  Radio Disney is celebrating 10 years of NBT artists this year, and past honorees include Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, and Kelsey Ballerini.

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Austin Mahone returned to Kids’ Day (he was also a featured performer in 2013!) to perform his new single “Dancing With Nobody” live for the first time.  Austin showcased his signature smooth dance moves on the court, complete with a moonwalk across the service line.  He also shared that he will be dropping a new album next year!

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Co-host Meg Donnelly did double duty and performed “With U,” showing off her dance moves and high kicks across the court in style.  We love her fun pop sound and can’t wait for her album to drop!  Meg is also a Radio Disney Next Big Thing alum!

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The always talented and lovely MAX sang his hit single “Love Me Less,” with a special appearance by Quinn XCII.  Watching these two perform together is so much fun and we loved seeing them rock it on center court!

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Ava Max’s infectious sound and unique style have already won over the hearts of many.  Ava got the stadium rocking with her hit “So Am I.”  We are so excited to see and hear what’s next, and are looking forward to her debut album coming soon!

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The show ended with a big finale that had everyone doing #TheGitUpChallenge! Blanco Brown sang “The Git Up” from up in the crowd, as the court was filled with dancers, the Blazer Fresh squad, Net Generation players, and even a drumline!  Current world #1, Novak Djokovic, never turns down an opportunity to dance at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, so of course he was right in the middle of it all!

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Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day is always such a blast and the best way to get the last slam of the year underway!

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Make sure you watch our interviews with MAX and Quinn XCII, JAGMAC, Ava Max, Austin Mahone, and JD MCCrary to learn more about the artists and what’s coming next.

Visit our YouTube channel for more!

Be sure to follow the US Open and Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Music, Show Review, Tennis

In Real Life, CNCO, AJ Mitchell & More Rock Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the US Open

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Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day is one of our favorite days of the year as it brings together two of our favorite things: music and tennis!   The event is in celebration of Arthur Ashe, the tennis player and humanitarian who won the first US Open title in 1968.  This year was extra special as it’s also the 50th anniversary of the US Open!

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On Saturday, current tennis players Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Madison Keys, Angelique Kerber, and Serena Williams hit the court along with young players from the NJTL and Net Generation.  The show also featured performances from some of the hottest rising artists.  AAKD has a knack for booking talent before they make it big: past performers include Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, & Demi Lovato just to name a few.

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The show was hosted by Skai Jackson and Alex Aiono, returning to Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day for his third time!  Echosmith kicked off the show with their hit singles “Cool Kids” and “Over My Head.”   In Real Life celebrated their one-year anniversary since they came together on ABC’s “Boy Band” by performing in front of one of their biggest crowds to date!   They showed off their moves and harmonies to their new single, “Tonight Belongs To You.”

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Djokovic, Nadal, Kerber, and Keys hit the court for a target challenge alongside young player Nicole, representing the NJTL chapter in Silver Springs, MD.  Each player had to hit forehands and backhands, as a tally was kept of each target that was hit.  Nicole blew the pros off the court and hit more backhands and forehands than any of them!  Each player was hitting for a special charity.

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Serena Williams hopped on court with a group of lucky Net Generation players!  She rallied with some players and even showed off her jump roping skills!  This will be Serena’s first US Open since becoming a mother last year and as always she was thrilled to be a part of AAKD!

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AJ Mitchell was surprised with the news that he’d be performing at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day during an interview with Radio Disney’s Morgan, who also co-hosted the show.  AJ sang his catchy new song “Girls,” from his new EP “Hopeful.”

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Kim Petras’ bubbly pop sound helped keep the party going with her infectious “Heart To Break.”

CNCO performed on the court in perfect boy band formation.  They had the crowd moving to their hits “Reggaetón Lento (Bailemos)” and “Se Vuelve Loca.”  Their performance definitely earned some of the biggest screams of the day! 

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All of the performers joined Shine MSD and drama students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on stage for the finale for a special performance of “Shine.”   The song has become an anthem for people to spread love and awareness, and that you’re never too young to make a change.  It was a fitting end to a day in honor of a man who also worked to share the same message.

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Be sure to follow the US Open & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Music, Sports, Tennis

Alex Aiono, New Hope Club & More To Headline 2017 Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day

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Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day is always one of our favorite events of the year!   The all day event is a celebration of our two loves: music and tennis!    AAKD kicks off the US Open in festive style every year in NYC, with activities like face painting, tennis skill tests, jugglers, and more.  There is also a concert and the chance to watch the pros practice up close!

The stadium show in Arthur Ashe Stadium features some of the hottest rising stars in music alongside top tennis players in an event that is part concert, part tennis skill, and all fun!   AAKD always has a knack for booking the next big thing.  Past performers have included Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, The Vamps & more.  This year’s show will feature performances by co-host and headliner Alex Aiono, Sofia Carson, New Hope Club, Jack & Jack, and Saving Forever.    Everyone’s favorite djoker, Novak Djokovic, will make an appearance as well.

Tickets for the stadium show start at just $10 and are on sale now!

2017 Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Performers
Alex Aiono
New Hope Club
Sofia Carson
Jack & Jack
Saving Forever

Tennis Players
Novak Djokovic

Arthur Ashe Kids Day 2017
Saturday, August 26th
gates open at 9:30am
Arthur Ashe Stadium – Flushing, NY
Buy Tickets

Be sure to follow AAKD & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Sports, Tennis

Tennis Tuesday: News Roundup

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This Week’s Tournaments:
Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open – Geneva, Switzerland
Open Parc Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Lyon – Lyon, France
Roland Garros Qualifying – Paris, France

Last Week’s Winners:
Internazionali BNL d’Italia – Sascha Zverev

Sascha Zverev Wins 1st Masters 1000 Title
Sascha got revenge for his good friend Dominic Thiem’s semifinal loss to Novak Djokovic, with a strong 6-4, 6-3 win over Djokovic in the finals in Rome.  The win is the first Masters 1000 title for Sascha, who at 20-years-old is the youngest to win a Masters title since Novak Djokovic in 2007.   Sasha will also enter the Top 10 for the first time in his career with the title in Rome.  We think Sascha has officially gone from #NextGen to #GenerationNow.

Thanasi Kokkinakis Makes Return to Singles
The young Aussie is playing in his first ATP World Tour level event in singles since he made a (brief) comeback in January.  Kokkinakis has had a rough time with injuries so early in his career, and we’re so glad to see him back on court!  Unfortunately, he lost in the first round to Denis Istomin in Lyon but we hope this is just the beginning of a strong comeback for him.

Novak Djokovic Announces Andre Agassi as New Coach
Rumors had been swirling for a while that Andre Agassi would be joining Djokovic’s coaching team.  Djokovic confirmed the rumors in his post-match conference in Rome, following his loss to Zverev.  Djokovic will officially start working with Agassi in Paris on a trial basis.

Dominic Thiem Beats Rafael Nadal in 3rd Straight Try
The hottest new rivalry on tour lately has been Rafa vs Domi.   The two met in the finals in both Barcelona and Madrid, with Rafa emerging as the winner of both titles.  Domi came closer to victory each match, and finally figured out a way to beat Rafa in the quarterfinals in Rome.  Thiem won the match 6-4, 6-3, showing off his aggressive and powerful playing style.  Bamos!

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Rome 2017 😊 #mygame

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Roland Garros Qualifying Underway
It’s hard to believe that it’s already time for the second slam of the season!   Roland Garros Qualifying is officially underway.  In the US, you can watch the action on Tennis Channel Plus.   Players to watch include young Americans Reilly Opelka, Dennis Novikov, and Stefan Kozlov, and new pros Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Casper Ruud.

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What a city 🇫🇷

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Sports, Tennis

Tennis Tuesday: News Roundup

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This Week’s Tournaments:
ASB Classic – Auckland, New Zealand
Apia International Sydney – Sydney, Australia

Last Week’s Winners:
Brisbane International – Grigor Dimitrov
Qatar ExxonMobil Open – Novak Djokovic
Aircel Chennai Open – Roberto Bautista Agut
Hopman Cup – France (Richard Gasquet & Kiki Mladenovic)

Grigor Dimitrov Wins First Title Since 2014
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 3 years since Grigor Dimitrov won his last title, at Queen’s Club in 2014.  That same year he reached the top 10 for the first time, and made it to the semi-finals a at Wimbledon.  It’s been a tough couple of years for Grigor, who has been working hard to get back in top form.  He started 2017 in commanding fashion, taking out 3 top 10 players (Dominic Thiem, Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori) on his way to the Brisbane title.  He also took one of the cutest and most excited trophy winning photos of all time.  More of this in 2017, please!

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Dominic Thiem Hits The Beach
One of the hardest working men in tennis, Dominic Thiem, hit the “beach” in Sydney ahead of the tournament there this week.   Our dream job would be planning and supervising these ATP player field trips during tournaments.  Where can we sign up?   (Also someone please take Grigor back to a zoo while he’s in Australia so we get more of this)

James Blake Wins 2016 Powershares Season Finale in Brooklyn
Professional tennis made it’s return to Brooklyn for the first time since  1935 on a snowy Saturday night at the Barclays Center.   James Blake won the Powershares QQQ Cup, the last event on the 2016 Champions Tour.  James defeated Andy Roddick in the first semi-final, breaking Andy in the final game of the set.   (Andy’s serve is still on point in case you were wondering).  John McEnroe beat Jim Courier 6-3, before losing to James in the final.   The final set was an entertaining battle of the New Yorkers, with an energetic crowd cheering on both players.

Taylor Fritz Expecting First Child
Tennis Channel just casually mentioned that Taylor Fritz is expecting his first child any day now!   Fritz wed his longtime girlfriend Raquel Pedraza over the Summer.   Congrats Taylor and Raquel!

Sports, Tennis

Tennis Tuesday: US Open Preview

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It’s the greatest time of year – the US Open is here!  We’ve been counting down all year and are so excited for the final slam of the year to kick off in NYC.   Here’s what you need to know about the tournament (fangirl style)

Where to Watch: ESPN and WatchESPN
Qualifying Tournament: August 22 – 26
Draw: August 26
Tournament: August 29 – September 11
Social Media: #USOpen @usopen

Arthur Ashe Kids Day is August 27th
The action kicks off with the annual Arthur Ashe Kids Day event this Saturday, August 27th!  AAKD is a day full of fun activities, great music, and of course, tennis!   Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams are scheduled to appear as is Novak Djokovic, who will be facing off against Ansel Elgort.  Enjoy games and see the pros practice up close on the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for free!  You can also catch up-and-coming performers like Citizen 4 and Tegan Marie on the Hess Festival Stage. Tickets to the stadium show are still available, and include performances by Flo Rida, Troye Sivan, Forever In Your Mind, Laura Marano & More!  Visit AAKD.com for a full schedule and more info on the event.

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Community Day is September 8th
For the 2nd year in a row, the US Open is offering FREE admission to fans on Thursday, September 8th.  You’ll be able to access matches around the grounds and catch the men’s and women’s doubles semi-finals, along with the Champions Invitational.  There will also be a farewell party for Louis Armstrong Stadium from 5pm to 7pm.  James Blake and Gigi Fernandez will be playing against top junior players.  And best of all, you might even get a chance to play on the legendary court before it’s gone!  Click here for more info.

 

Support American Tennis
As anyone who has been to the US Open knows, there’s nothing like a close match featuring an American player.  The crowds can get very vocal in supporting their home players, which makes for an amazing atmosphere.  Last year’s match between Donald Young and Victor Troicki on Grandstand (RIP) is one of our favorite US Open memories – the match went to 5 thrilling sets, with Donald fully crediting the crowd for getting him through.  There are 4 American seeded players this year: Stevie Johnson, John Isner, Jack Sock & Sam Querrey.   So get your USA!  USA!  chants ready and make sure to root for #Merica!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJB8Dz1BtPa/?taken-by=steviej345

Sports, Tennis

Tennis Tuesday: Olympics

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This Week’s Tournaments
Olympic Games – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Abierto Mexicano – Los Cabos, Mexico

Del Potro Upsets Novak Djokovic At The Olympics
Juan Martin del Potro, still making his comeback from another wrist surgery, defeated #1 Novak Djokovic in an emotional 1st round match at the Olympics.  By the end of the match, which Delpo won 7-6 (4), 7-6(2), he was crying, Djokovic was crying, WE WERE ALL CRYING.  Also, shout out to the Argentinian Men’s handball team for rescuing Delpo from an elevator before his match!


Nadal Makes His Olympic Comeback
Rafael Nadal finally got the chance to carry the flag for Spain in the Opening Ceremony, after being sidelined with injury in 2012.   Rafa is playing in the men’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles this year.  Vamos!


Nick Kyrgios Wins BB&T Open in Atlanta
After lots of drama with the Australian tennis federation as to whether or not he’d be able to play in the Olympics, Kyrgios decided to opt out of this year’s games.  Instead, Kyrgios made the most of his time by playing in the BB&T Open in Atlanta, defeating 3-time winner John Isner in the final.

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🏺 #atl

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Sam Querrey Goes GQ
He’s so trendy now.

Sports, Tennis

Tennis Tuesday: Let The Grass Season Begin

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After a rainy couple of weeks, we made it through the clay court season and a history making Roland Garros.  Fittingly, the sun started to shine down on center court just minutes after the final point was played.   The tour has already shifted to the grass court season, with Wimbledon just 3 weeks away.

This Week’s Tournaments
Mercedes Cup – Stuttgart, Germany
Ricoh Open – s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

Novak Djokovic Wins 4th Consecutive Major
Djokovic finally won his first Roland Garros title, completing a career grand slam in the process.  He also won his 4th consecutive major, and is the first player to win 4 consecutive majors since Rod Laver in 1969.   No doubt he has his eyes on completing the calendar slam this year!

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The day after completing a career Grand Slam. #RG16

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Feliciano Lopez & Marc Lopez Win Men’s Doubles
Spain did not have a men’s singles champion this year, especially after the withdrawl of Rafa Nadal.  But Spanish players took home both the men’s doubles and women’s singles titles!  It was heartwarming to see veterans Lopez/Lopez (no relation) win a slam – the first for Feliciano and the second for Marc.  The Spainards are also the 6th different team to win a slam in the last 2 years.

Dominic Thiem Enters Top 10
Thiem continues to build on his impressive season.  He advanced to the Semi-Finals in Roland Garros, before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.  As a result, Thiem jumped to #7 in the world.  We’re sure we’ll be seeing him climb even higher.  We love his big game and his attitude and are #TeamThiem all the way.

Sports, Tennis

Tennis Tuesday: Roland Garros Preview

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The second slam of the year is already underway, with qualifying action starting yesterday in Paris.  Here’s our list of everything you need to know!

Roland Garros 101
Where to watch:  Tennis Channel and Tennis Channel Plus
Draws will be revealed on Friday, May 20th
Main draw play starts Sunday, May 22nd daily through the finals on Sunday, June 5th.
Social Media: #RG16 @rolandgarros

Novak Djokovic Aiming for Career Slam 
While it seems like Djokovic has won pretty much everything over the last few years, there is 1 title that has eluded him – the French Open.  He beat Rafa in the Quarterfinals last year, then lost to an inspired Stan Wawrinka in the final.  Could this be the year he completes the career slam in Paris?

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#mornings #madrid ☀️😃🌳

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Rafa Going for #10
One man likely standing in Djokovic’s way is Rafael Nadal, the 9 time champion.  While Djokovic currently owns their head-to-head, Rafa has been re-gaining confidence and their last meeting in Madrid was close.

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9 finals. 9 titles. 9 days. #RG16

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 #NextGen Americans To Watch
Taylor Fritz is playing in the main draw of Roland Garros for the 1st time, with his ranking high enough for direct entry.   Several Americans advanced through the first round of qualifying, including Frances Tiafoe, Ryan Harrison, and Jared Donaldson.  Tommy Paul, who defeated Fritz in the 2015 Junior Roland Garros final, also advanced on day 1.   Bjorn Frantangelo, winner of the USTA’s French Open wild card challenge, also received direct entry to the main draw.

Doubles!
It’s been a fun couple of years for doubles, with different teams winning each slam.  We’re sure the hometown team of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut will get tons of support – they’ve already won 3 Masters titles this year.  The Bryan Brothers just won the title in Rome, defeating Jack Sock and Vasek Pospisil in the final.
Vive Le France!
The last time a Frenchman won Roland Garros was Yannick Noah in 1983.  We’d love to see another French player win the title.  One thing is for sure – the French players are always entertaining to watch!  Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet, Benoit Paire, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Gilles Simon & more.  ALLEZ!
Sports, Tennis

Tennis Tuesday: ATP News Roundup

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This Week’s Tournament:
Internazionali BNL d’Italia – Rome, Italy

Portland To Host USA vs Croatia Davis Cup Tie
After much anticipation the USTA announced that Portland, Oregon will be the site of the next Davis Cup tie in July.  Portland is where USA won the cup in 2007, and we’re hoping for another victory against Croatia in July!  Stay tuned to the USTA website for ticket info!

Novak Djokovic Wins Record 29th Masters 1000 Title
Djokovic defeated Andy Murray in the Mutua Madrid Open final to capture his 3rd Masters title of 2016, and his 29th overall.

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😍😍😍 @djokernole 😍😍😍 #MMOPEN

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Why We Love Gael Monfils
If you’ve seen a Monfils match, you know that anything is possible.  He’s an incredible athlete who will jump, dive and go for every ball.  How does he jump so high?  In practice, he leaped over Davia Gavrilova.