SunCoast Credit Union Arena shows versatility with area's first indoor tennis event

Adam Regan, AREGAN@NEWS-PRESS.COM Published 9:29 p.m. ET March 19, 2018 | Updated 1:04 p.m. ET March 20, 2018

The Suncoast Credit Union Arena continued to prove its versatility Monday.

The $28 million multipurpose facility has hosted concerts and banquets and been home to the Florida SouthWestern’s basketball and volleyball teams and the Culligan City of Palms Classic since it was built less than two years.

Now, it can add housing Southwest Florida’s first indoor-tennis event. A capacity crowd witnessed some impressive volleys, smashing aces, backhand winners and high-intensity competition from some the world’s past and present top-ranked singles and doubles players as the 75,000 square-foot arena morphed into a tennis court all in the name of charity for the Golisano Children’s Hospital Pro Tennis Classic.

The exhibitions featuring current world No. 14 player Sam Querrey and 16-time Grand Slam champion doubles team of Mike and Bob Bryan were all a part of the 10th Annual Madisen’s Match events to benefit cancer treatment charities in Southwest Florida and across the country.

The past six years, the event was held at the Landings Golf & Country Club where about 200-300 attended per year. The move to Suncoast Arena changed all of that as 1,800 fans filed in.

“This is my first time here. I know it was played at another location, but I can’t imagine it getting any better than this,” said Querrey, who took on Mardy Fish, a winner of six ATP events and quarterfinalist in the 2007 Australian Open, the 2008 US Open, and the 2011 Wimbledon Championships. “I just hope it keeps growing and growing.”

The events have raised more than $650,000 since they began 10 years ago. The money has financed medical equipment designed to make cancer treatment more efficient and less painful, as well as the Madisen’s Match Activity Room at the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

Fort Myers resident Duane Chaney established Madisen’s Match in 2008 after his 3-year-old niece, Madisen Abramson, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Inspired by Madisen and determined to help others, Chaney created Madisen’s Match to use tennis to raise funds for pediatric and adult cancer charities.

The playing surfaced at Suncoast was created for the U.S. Open but was never used.

Former world doubles No. 1 Don Johnson couldn’t have asked for a better situation.

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Madisen's Match, a pro tennis classic benefitting the Golisano Children's Hospital was played at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena at Florida Southwestern State College on Monday 3/19/2018. The exhibition matches featured No. 14 world ranked player Sam Querry, Mardi Fish, Mike and Bob Bryan, Luke and Murphy Jensen, Don Johnson and Robby Ginepri among others. This is the first indoor tennis match in Southwest Florida. Andrew West/The News-Press, Andrew West/The News-Press

SunCoast Credit Union Arena shows versatility with area's first indoor tennis event

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