January 25, 2012
Sampras, Martin Included In Super Bowl Week in Indianapolis
By Justin Cohen
Super Bowl XLVI week in Indianapolis to include Pete Sampras vs. Todd Martin exhibition match
On Sunday, January 29 at 7 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, tennis legends Pete Sampras and Todd Martin will take part in the "Match For a Cure", an exhibition tennis match kicking-off Super Bowl XLVI week.
The event was put together by Pacers Sports & Entertainment, California-based Live Nation Entertainment Inc., and Michigan-based BP Sports and Entertainment. Event organizers said 25 percent of the proceeds will go to organizations dealing with cancer research and treatment.
The event founder is leukemia survivor and former tennis professional Bill Przybysz. The "Match For a Cure" event was started in 1999 when Przybysz challenged former world No. 1 John McEnroe to a match to raise money for cancer. This year's event will feature Sampras competing against Martin in singles, as well as both men playing doubles against two local celebrities.
Event organizers expect 10,000 to 12,000 fans to pack the stands for the event. "We think a lot of people who live here as well as visitors that happen to be here will want to come downtown to watch some high-level tennis in a good venue," said Rick Fuson, Pacers Sports & Entertainment Vice President and Director of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Club level tickets for the event are $27, lower-level tickets are $47 and $67, and courtside tickets --- which include a meet-and-greet with the players --- cost $150. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
January 29, 2012
Martin happy to help battle cancer
By Mark Ambrogi
Tonight will mark the first time Todd Martin has participated in a Miracle Match Foundation exhibition. But it was inevitable that he would given his devotion to charitable causes and the fact his father, Dale, died of leukemia at age 61.
"It's a great cause and it's one that is close to my heart," Martin said.
Martin will open tonight's Match for a Cure event at Bankers Life Fieldhouse by playing Bill Przybysz, a former touring pro who survived a battle with leukemia and created the foundation. The first one to win four games wins.
"My body can't take a full match," said the 46-year-old Przybysz, whose cancer has been in remission for 16 years.
Martin, 41, will then play Pete Sampras in a best-of-three sets match.
Przybysz's foundation started in 1999 with John McEnroe playing Bjorn Borg in the first exhibition. Przybysz holds tennis exhibitions all over the world to raise money; McEnroe has played in 18 of the events.
The foundation supports seriously ill children and their families, bone marrow drives, and research and development for a cure of leukemia and all forms of cancer. Proceeds from tonight's event also will go to Riley Hospital for Children.
"I had my own bone marrow transplant that saved my life," Przybysz said.
Martin's father often stressed the importance of philanthropic causes.
"There are things my sister and I were taught at a certain age, and philanthropy and charity were at the top of the list," Martin said. "I embraced it in different ways since I stopped playing. I don't have a lot more time on my hands, but I have a lot more control over my time.
"I don't have the earnings I used to, so I don't do as much that way. My belief is you give of your time, you give of your talents and you give of your treasures."
Martin is founder of the Todd Martin Development Fund, which helps provide life skills, leadership and tennis to Lansing, Mich., youth.
Martin, who won eight ATP Tour titles, reached a career-high No. 4 in the rankings in September 1999. Martin, who lives in Jacksonville, Fla., played in four Champions Series events last fall.
"I'm looking forward to catching up with (Sampras) and seeing how much better he is than everyone else I play these days," Martin said. "Pete has maintained more of his athleticism than the rest of us. He was ahead of us in the first place, too. The only recourse someone like me has is to outsmart him, out-hit him and figure how to get to his weaknesses, which are few and far between."
Sampras, 40, had an 18-4 record against Martin in ATP Tour matches.
"Historically, I played him pretty close and historically he beat me pretty often," Martin said.
However, Martin knows the most important battle tonight is against cancer.