World's top tennis stars 

BY LAUREN SHEPRO

With much fanfare -- Andre Agassi, Martina Hingis and the top players in the world, plus a new ad campaign and brilliant new site enhancements -- individual tickets to the Mar. 23-Apr. 2 Ericsson Open now are on sale without an increase in price.

With the advent of a new title sponsor in Ericsson Mobile Phones, ticket holders can expect a colorful new experience at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. It's a new name and with the name change comes a sensory renovation that will make fan experience one that won't soon be forgotten.

"We have enhanced the entire environmental package," said Butch Buchholz, tournament chairman. "We are collaborating with our title sponsor, Ericsson Mobile Phones. to create some interesting new attractions in addition to the traditional attractions fans have enjoyed for years."

Some new attractions include a golf interactive area complete with putting green and a custom-made golf club service and "Ericsson World," an open area for the general public to enter and participate in a variety of interactive exhibits.

Ericsson Open also welcomes back Mayor's Jewelers as the retail partner of presenting sponsor RADO. Along with RADO's traditional "Smash Corner" speed serve interactive, RADO and Mayor's will create an elegant, sophisticated watch-jewelry boutique and shopping experience. One additional site enhancement is the development of a new 1,500-seat show court -- Court No. 2 -- to accommodate the increasing depth of player popularity and provide more seats to view marquee matches.

The player lineup is the strongest it has ever been, with 25 of the top 25 women committed including top-ranked players such as two-time defending champion Venus Williams, 1999 U.S. Open Champion Serena Williams, 1999 Wimbledon champion Lindsay Davenport, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles and Mary Pierce. They will be challenged by fan favorites Anna

Kournikova, Jennifer Capriati and Alexandra Stevenson among others.

The men's draw is just as strong with all the top players entered including world No. I and three-time champion Andre Agassi, six-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras, two-time U.S. Open champion Patrick Rafter, Brazil's Gustavo Kuertan, and Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador.

"I'm not going out on the limb to say 2000 will be an excellent year for tennis. There are a great many rivalries brewing out there and Ericsson Open is usually a good indicator of who does well the rest of the year," Buchholz said.

Each individual Ericsson Open ticket includes a full session of tennis -- more than 40 matches per session on some days. Individual tickets provide an assigned seat for stadium matches and unrestricted seating at any of the other 11 show courts on Ericsson Open's 30-acre site. That means a close up view of the best players in professional tennis on every outer court through the quarterfinal round.

Ericsson Open's preferred seating ticket packages are still available including a complete Opening Weekend package (also known as the best weekend in professional tennis. You won't miss a single player).
Ticket availability is supported by a colorful promotional sales brochure that provides details on individual ticket and package prices and can be secured by calling Ericsson Open ticket office at 305-442-3367.

Ericsson Open 2000, with $5.76 million in prize money, is the fifth largest tournament in the world following the four Grand Slam events and the largest Tennis Masters Series event on the ATP Tour and Tier I event on the Sanex WTA TOUR.

Ticket prices range from $5 for a junior ticket (age 14 and under) to $40 for the men's and women's finals. Adult ticket prices start at $10. Tickets may be ordered by contacting Ericsson Open Ticket Office at 305-442-3367 or toll free outside Florida at 800-725-5472.