Jessica Pegula replaces Emma Raducanu as racket at The Rock Exos in Newark and Miami – Tennis Now

By Richard Pagliaro Monday, November 17, 2025
Photo credit: Racquet at the Rock

U.S. Open finalists Jessica Pegula Return to the New York area for Racquet at the Rock.

World No. 6 Pegula replaces 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu at the Racquet at the Rock exhibition event next month. Raducanu withdrew from the game due to injury.

The exhibition event is scheduled for Sunday, December 7, at 5:30 pm at the Prudential Center in Newark. This will be the first tennis event in the Prudential Center’s 18-year history.

The tournament is planned to feature two best-of-three matches, with a 10-point tiebreaker in place of the third set. US Open and Wimbledon finals Amanda Anisimova The first match will be against 2024 US Open finalist Pegula, followed by a clash with the five-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz Facing former U.S. Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe.

Pegula’s addition means two of the top six women in the world are represented in the field.

Tickets are on sale now and are available Purchased here.

“It’s always fun to be on the court with Francis – we love competing against each other and I can’t wait to put on a great show for the fans in Newark,” Alcaraz said. “It’s something special to be able to play in a metropolitan area again with all the amazing fans.

“They bring such a unique energy and they love tennis so much. I’m looking forward to what will be a special night of great tennis on December 7 at the Prudential Center.”

The Miami Invitational on December 8 will be the first tennis event held at the home of the Miami Marlins, offering unique and historic tennis at the ballpark.

The event will feature four of the world’s top tennis players: Carlos Alcaraz versus rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca Marking their first meeting and second round showdown Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula. Anisimova was born in Freehold, New Jersey, and Pegula is a native of Buffalo. Both women now call Florida home.

Tributes to Althea Gibson

The event will also spotlight tennis legend and New Jersey icon Althea Gibson, who broke barriers and became the first African American to win a Grand Slam title. A longtime East Orange resident, Gibson won five major singles titles and became a powerful symbol of progress and possibility. Gibson’s influence lives on locally. Branch Brook Park in Newark has a bronze statue in her honor, as well as the Althea Gibson Tennis Courts, a 20-court facility named by Essex County to inspire the next generation of athletes.

To commemorate her extraordinary legacy, each contestant will be honored in the "Racket on the Rock’ will receive a custom commemorative plaque engraved with Gibson’s name to commemorate her lasting impact on the sport and the state she once called home.

“On behalf of the Althea Gibson Estate, we are deeply grateful for this thoughtful tribute. Seeing each player receive a commemorative plaque in Althea’s name is a touching recognition of her lasting impact on the game and the barriers she broke along the way. It is especially meaningful to celebrate her legacy in the state of New Jersey she was proud to call home.”