Murray At Center Of Push For London To Join Big-City Hosts Of Tennis Showcase

Andy Murray is "at the heart of the demand for London to join the big-city hosts that stage a glittering set of exhibition matches" Monday night to celebrate World Tennis Day and help the growth of the sport, according to Neil Harman of the LONDON TIMES. The BNP Paribas Showdowns, at Madison Square Garden, in N.Y., and in the AsiaWorld Arena, in Hong Kong, mark a day of events around the world. Plans are advanced for a leading London venue, possibly Earls Court, to be included in the 2014 event. A deal for London’s involvement "would further cement the city’s place at the heart of the tennis world," with Wimbledon and the Queen’s Club as its grass-court hub. Murray would be the "ultimate catch for the event" and negotiations should be easier since event producer StarGames Exec Producer and President Jerry Solomon  manages Ivan Lendl, Murray’s coach (LONDON TIMES, 3/4).