Tennis Canada – Fans are invited to attend the draw ceremony featuring an ATP player
– NHL and ATP players will star in the Sportsnet Ball Hockey Challenge presented by Knapper
– A baseball game and a celebrity match will also be played 
 
Montreal, July 25, 2017 — The Montreal 2017 edition of Rogers Cup presented by National Bank will kick off on the right foot with the return of Milk Family Weekend from Friday August 4 to Sunday August 6 beginning at 9 am. For the occasion, the tournament will open its doors to the public so that they can watch the best players in the world practice for free. In addition to the tennis, there will be a multitude of activities for the whole family. Baseball, ball hockey, hit the target games, and much more to entertain every one of all ages.
 
Practices and qualifying matches 
Beginning Friday August 4, fans will be able to watch their favourite players practice at Uniprix Stadium. On Saturday and Sunday, veterans Ernests Gulbis, Marcos Baghdatis, and Marcel Granollers along with ATP NextGen players Frances Tiafoe, Hyeon Chung, Daniil Medvedev, and several Canadian players will try and earn their place in the main draw. 
 
Official draw ceremony 
Fans are invited to attend the official draw ceremony which will be held on Friday August 4 at 4 pm on the main stage. A top ATP player will be in attendance and the atmosphere will be festive thanks to free drinks offered by Peroni.
 
Baseball game 
On Friday August 4 at 2 p.m., tennis players will trade their raquets for baseball bats on National Bank Court when they take on former Expos Derek Aucoin, Claude Raymond, and Denis Boucher.
 
NHL players will face ATP players 
On Saturday August 5 at 2 pm, National Bank Court will feel like a skating rink when the NHL goes up against the ATP in the Sportsnet Ball Hockey Challenge presented by Knapper. Jonathan Drouin will participate proudly wearing the Canadiens jersey for the first time. His Montreal teammates Charles Hudon and Michael McCarron will also be in attendance along with Alex Burrows of the Ottawa Senators, Antoine Roussel of the Dallas Stars, Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers, Alexander Killorn of the Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as former Canadiens player Donald Audette and his son Daniel of the Laval Rocket.
 
Celebrity match 
To conclude the weekend in style, Jean-René Dufort, Alexandre Barrette, Mikael Kingsbury, Alex Burrows along with other celebrities will showcase their tennis skills during a celebrity match on Sunday August 6 at 2 pm.
 
Main draw matches will begin on Monday August 7.
 
Tickets are available online at www.CoupeRogers.com or by calling: 1-855-TENNIS-0 (1-855-836-6470), extension 1.

About Rogers Cup presented by National Bank
Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is a Tennis Canada owned and operated world-class tournament celebrating its 125th anniversary of the women’s event from August 5-13, 2017 at Aviva Centre in Toronto and its 137th anniversary of the men’s event from August 4-13, 2017 at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal. As a WTA Premier 5 tournament, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, and US Open Series event, Rogers Cup presented by National Bank will showcase the world’s best players. Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is the third-oldest title in tennis, behind only Wimbledon and the US Open. For more information and tickets visit www.rogerscup.com.

About Tennis Canada
Founded in 1890, Tennis Canada is a non-profit, national sport association with a mission to lead the growth of tennis in Canada and a vision to become a world-leading tennis nation. We value teamwork, passion, integrity, innovation and excellence. Tennis Canada owns and operates the premier Rogers Cup presented by National Bank WTA and ATP World Tour events, 10 professional ITF-sanctioned events and financially supports 12 other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates national junior training centres/programs in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. Tennis Canada is a proud member of the International Tennis Federation, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the International Wheelchair Tennis Association, and serves to administer, sponsor and select the teams for Davis Cup, Fed Cup, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and all wheelchair, junior and senior national teams. Tennis Canada invests its surplus into tennis development.

Tennis Canada (Montreal)

Valerie Tetreault
Regional Manager, Communications and Media Relations
vtetreault@tenniscanada.com, 514-273-1515 ext. 6259

Victoria Jaklin
Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations
vjaklin@tenniscanada.com, 514-273-1515 ext. 6291