Merrick's Noah Rubin Will Play At New York Open At Nassau Coliseum

Seven-time Grand Slam champion and Tennis Hall of Famer John McEnroe has been named as the honorary ambassador of the inaugural New York Open ATP World Tour event to be held at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, from Feb. 11-18. And playing at the tournament will be Merrick native Noah Rubin.

McEnroe, a Douglaston, New York native, will lend his on- and off-court services to help promote the return of the ATP World Tour to Long Island. Top 20 tennis players John Isner and Kei Nishikori, and one of the world’s best doubles duo, Bob and Mike Bryan, have recently announced their commitments to play the tournament.

On Opening Night, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m., the tennis legend will headline an exhibition session that will tip off the beginning of the inaugural New York Open. McEnroe previously played a match at the Coliseum in 1982 when he played in the Lite Tennis Challenge. Exhibition matchups and further detail will be announced at a later date.

McEnroe holds four US Open and three Wimbledon singles titles, as well as five Davis Cup titles. He also won nine grand slam doubles titles and one mixed doubles title, and was the top ranked player in the world from 1981 through 1984. McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.

“I recently had a chance to visit the newly renovated Coliseum, and I think it’s the perfect venue to bring top talent to New York on the heels of the Australian Open,” said McEnroe. “I’m looking forward to being a part of the first-ever New York Open and helping to create a fun and impactful Opening Night on Long Island.”

Additionally, Merrick native and former John McEnroe Tennis Academy protégé Noah Rubin has committed to play the New York Open, joining Isner and Nishikori in the singles main draw player field. Rubin won the Wimbledon boys’ singles title in 2014, and turned pro in 2015 after playing for Wake Forest University for one season. He earned an NCAA career high No. 1 singles ranking and All-American honors, becoming the first player in Atlantic Coast Conference history to be named both men’s tennis ACC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year after making it to the finals of the 2015 NCAA Singles Championship. Rubin also won all of his qualifying matches and first-round main draw match of the 2017 Australian Open, where he lost to eventual champion Roger Federer in the second round.

“Playing at the Coliseum in front of my hometown crowd will be a dream come true for me,” said Rubin. “I’m looking forward to seeing the great work that’s been done to the venue and playing the first ATP World Tour event there.”

Individual tickets range from $28 to $102, and VIP packages range from $122 to $493 for the main draw and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, NewYorkOpen.com and NYCBLIVE.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Ticketmaster Box Office at the Coliseum. More player commitments will be announced soon. Parking is $15.

Photos: McEnroe — Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Sports/Getty Images. Rubin — UOMO Sport.