US Open Stars Carlos Alcaraz, Venus Williams & More Face Off In Pickleball Matches at the Palace Invitational

On August 25, Lotte New York Palace hosted its sixth annual Place Invitational event. Stellar players competed in spirited pickleball games. 

Players included reigning Wimbledon, US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, and 7-time Grand Slam Champion Venus Williams. Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev, 3x Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur, American tennis star Tommy Paul, and rising tennis star Holger Rune participated. Professional pickleball players from the Miami Pickleball Club, Matt Manasse & Hurricane Tyra Black showed off their skills.

Co-host of Today’s third hour Sheinelle Jones emceed the event.

First, Rune and Black played a doubles match against Rublev and Manasse. The game ended in a tie.

In the second match, superstar Williams and Alcaraz faced off against Jabeur and Paul. The meet ended in a tie too. The event featured delicious refreshments.

Lotte New York Palace Executive Chef Cedric Tovar passed out tennis-themed treats. Guests enjoyed the caviar-topped potato bites and tennis ball macarons. Similarly, the event featured high-end liquor.

Spectators drank glasses from Chateau D’Esclans’ 12L Whispering Angel bottle. The rare product came from a one-hundred-bottle run. The Place Invitational has a fascinating history.

Due to the COVID pandemic, The Place Invitational took a four-year hiatus. The sixth installment saw great success.