Tracy Austin Hosts Citi Taste of Tennis

Photo of Citi Taste of Tennis

Citi Taste of Tennis is simply a culinary kickoff lawsuit that brings the world's apical tennis players and starring chefs unneurotic earlier a large tennis tournament.

The archetypal nighttime of the BNP Paribas Open astatine the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, immoderate of the astir talented culinary teams, beverage and spirits representatives provided a festive and entertaining feast for tennis players and tennis fans. 

Located connected the backmost tract of the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, tennis fable Tracy Austin was 1 of the invited hosts of the event. Besides attending a cooking objection with Michelin Star Chef Minh Phan, Austin enlightened guests astatine a Fireside Chat. This three-time Grand Slam winner, and erstwhile satellite #1 tennis subordinate earned the women's singles titles doubly astatine the property of 16 and 18.

She shared successful an interrogation that the cardinal to her occurrence was her intelligence game. "My service wasn't the best, but I had a intelligence toughness," she said. "Life was engaged for me, I was connected the screen of Sports Illustrated successful 1979, arsenic the youngest Open winner. When you are a champion, determination are a batch of demands connected your life. There is much unit and expectations."

When asked astir the tennis sensation Coco Gauff, who won her archetypal WTA Tour singles rubric astatine the property of 15, Austin replied, "She has specified promising talent."

Austin got her commencement successful tennis astatine a precise young age, portion her parent worked astatine the Jack Kramer Club successful Rolling Hills Estates. "I was the youngest of 5 kids and picked up a racquet early," said Austin. Other tennis champions who were members of the nine included Pete Sampras and Lindsay Davenport.

She owes her occurrence to her mom. "My ma helped maine go a champion. She would thrust maine to tournaments and connection encouragement."

Even though her title vocation was derailed astatine the property of 25 from a car accident, she said, "It changed my beingness perspective." She became a tennis commentator and a parent to 3 boys. Her lad Brandon Holt is rising successful nonrecreational tennis, having played connected the USC Tennis Team. Practicing with him earlier successful the time earlier an upcoming match, she is excited helium is playing astatine BNP Paribas Open successful Indian Wells. "As a mother, determination is lone truthful overmuch I tin say. It's a good enactment offering advice."

When asked what proposal she gives to radical looking to instrumentality up tennis, Austin said, "Tennis is simply a lifelong sport. It's societal and the champion mode to get started is to instrumentality immoderate lessons to make bully method and past practice. Playing connected a precocious schoolhouse squad gets you retired playing 3 to 4 times oregon much a week."

Jill Weinlein

Another portion of the evening festivities included a VIP hr presented by PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association) that enlightened players and fans by providing thoughtful proposal astir the game, and however to program up for erstwhile you retire.

US Women’s National Team fable Aly Wagner, broadcaster for CBS Sports and Fox Sports, and co-owner of Queensboro FC (USL shot team) moderated the presentation.

Featured speakers included Grammy Award-winning rapper Chamillionaire, the CEO of Access Club and capitalist successful 60+ tech companies; Jacquelyn Dahl, founder and CEO of 1UP Sports Marketing, and selling cause for premier athletes including Patrick Mahomes and Alex Morgan; Nneka Ogwumike, 2016 WNBA MVP and Champion hoops player, and President of the WNBA Players Association; and NBA hoops fable Jalen Rose, ESPN analyst, Founder of Jalen Rose Foundation/Charitable Fund and Jalen Rose Leadership Academy. 

This dynamic sheet urged players to instrumentality vantage of their success. 'When you are connected the apical of your game, marketplace yourself and get arsenic galore sponsorships arsenic you can. The infinitesimal you halt winning, opportunities volition drop.'

Jill Weinlein

The enactment tract was filled with appealing aromas from immoderate of the champion chefs successful the Coachella Valley. They were preparing their favourite dishes retired successful the unfastened godforsaken air. Ticket holders and invited guests enjoyed tiny Servin' It Up Citi Style plates. Chef Daniel Rodriguez from Sol Y Sombra was making Paella Tierra y Mar (Surf & Turf); Andie Hubka from Cork & Fork served Blue Cheese stuffed Dates and Mexican Street Corn Salad. Juan Leon from VUE made a vegan vessel and meaty brochettes.

Other favourite chefs included Hervé Glin from PGA West Golf and Resorts making a delicious French inspired food ravioli and watercress and pear crockery with pick of gorgonzola dressing. Jon Butler from The Penney & Parlour made Japanese saccharine murphy and embed seaweed and cured oversea bream.

Jill Weinlein

Sweet treats included Brandini Toffee crystal pick sundaes served from a classical retro trailer. Brandon Weimer's Brandini Toffee created his section Greater Palm Springs almond toffee institution backmost successful 2006. He was a precocious schoolhouse pupil astatine La Quinta High School and made toffee arsenic a fundraiser for a schoolhouse trip. Now helium has a mill successful Rancho Mirage making 100 lb batches of his delicious almond toffee, almond toffee popcorn and different saccharine delights.

Jill Weinlein

A enactment of good vino provided by Zonin and signature Gin & Tonic cocktails by Citi Sponsor Sipsmith. In 2009, 3 friends, Sam, Fairfax and Jared brought the uncompromising prime and quality of Gin backmost to London, the metropolis wherever it each began. They launched Sipsmith gin bringing backmost a accepted copper distillery, which nary 1 had done successful astir 200 years. This breathtaking gin distilling renaissance successful London makes Sipsmith London Dry Gin, but a Lemon Drizzle Gin and Strawberry Smash.

Jill Weinlein

Voss h2o hydrated guests and besides offered a rotation instrumentality for giveaway items. As a sponsor successful the event, they offered their 'Kick Serve' cocktail and bedazzling bling bottles for souvenirs.

Other sponsors too Citi and Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa were Lucky successful Love, Vokl, Chef Works, Cliff Drysdale Management, TopCourt and KDGL-FM.

Jill Weinlein

Pro Tennis Players successful attendance included Aleksandar Kovacevic, Alex Molcan, Alexander 'Sascha' Zverev, Alizé Cornet, Alon Moritz, f the nighttime Anna Bondár, Arnaud Restifo, Bianca Andreescu, Claire Liu, Dayana Yastremska, Desirae Krawczyk, Édouard Roger-Vasselin, Elena-Gabriela Ruse, Gaby Dabrowski, Geoffrey Blancaneaux, Giuliana Olmos, Holger Rune, J.J. Wolf, Jack Draper, Kimberly Zimmerman, Lauren Davis, Marcelo Arévalo, Maryna Zanevska, Michael Russell, Miomir Kecmanovic, Neil Pauffley, Nick Monroe, Nicole Melichar-Martinez, Peyton Stearns, Rachel Stuhlmann, Shelby Rogers, Wang Xiyu, Wu Yibing, Yana Sizikova and Yulia Putintseva.

Upcoming Citi Taste of Tennis events volition instrumentality spot successful Miami connected March 20, 2023 astatine JW Marriott Miami. Citi Taste of Tennis successful Washington DC is connected July 30, 2023, and Citi Taste of Tennis New York is connected August 24, 2023 astatine Gotham Hall.