BNP Paribas Showdown Tennis

Over the past 5 years at the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden I had enjoyed photographing the tennis stars with MY PROFESSIONAL DSLR CAMERA. I EVEN RENTED MY LENS SO THAT I COULD GET GOOD SHOTS. I was EXCITED when I arrived at the 2017 BNP Paribas Showdown, to see Australian Open Finalist Venus Williams, and to get some great photographs WITH MY PROFESSIONAL DSLR. HOWEVER, when I checked in, I was asked to take my camera to security and TOLD THAT PROFESSIONAL PICTURE TAKING WAS NOT LONGER ALLOW AT THE BNP PARIBAS SHOWDOWN. As a semi-professional photographer and fan, I was very disappointed. I don't understand why there is no DSLR photography allowed. This will lessen the professional sports experience.

I love tennis and this is the a good opportunity to see closer the player and the personality but this year everybody was to serious this even is to have fun and be silly Anyway o love it!!!

Years past at BNP Paribas Showdown, including 2016, were great!!! I got to see the best in the world up close.

I love watching tennis and the atmosphere was great

To see the players put their skills and talents on exhibition for us is unforgettable. Although they were being payed for their time, events such as this one allows us to see the players outside of the ultra competitive mode they are normally in. We were able to see a more humorous, relaxed side. It was evedent their approach was "I'm here to have fun, put on a show and not win".

Some of the best names in tennis and we got to see them all play in a 3 hour time span. This is also a great way to introduce kids to professional tennis and seats were more affordable than the US Open.

My husband Arthur and I look forward to this annual amazing Tennis Showdown and it's always a fabulous evening. This year Andy Roddick and Venus were my shining stars. The theme of The Americas versus The World was exciting and the pros played with heart. Hewitt and Del Porto were fun to watch.

Great fun, good times, really exciting points and matches, good line judges, variety of player styles .... waaaay better than the OTHER inept tennis event at Barclays a couple months ago! Totally different league!! What was it? QQQ Powershares or some such was a disaster. This is the one to see ... I think it is the fourth time we have seen the BNP Paribas event. It was a surprise date and my wife upon hearing where we were going said, "oh good!! I love it! It's one of the best things we go see!" ... So everyone was happy and it really doesn't get any better than that. I have nothing to say that is less than a glowing, positive review.

This was a really nice informal way to see the players as people. They talked to the crowd and really wanted to put on a good show. The only issue I had was not with them. The Garden is beautiful. The BNP employees attended the event as evidenced by their ID tags. The one in my row got really drunk and bothered us for an hour. There should be a talk before. They are representing their company. Is was a real distraction for me and my friend. I paid a ton for the tickets.

It was a great matchup and lots of fun. The players also had lots of enthusiasm!

The event was well put together. Enjoyed the match between the gentlemen before Serena's, and especially enjoyed Serena's. First time at Madison Square Garden and wad very impressed. Would definitely go again

I had a great time at the BNP tennis match. The junior match-up was fun to see and it was nice to see young girls so into sports. The men's match up was the best! It was very entertaining all due mainly to Monfils. What a character! Love him! I liked that they had the girls come out and play doubles with the guys. Really nice to watch & I feel like I got an extra bonus because of that. The ladies match was fierce although by that time it was getting pretty late in the evening. I still stayed until the end though. I had a fabulous time! The only complaint I would have is the loud & inconsiderate people sitting behind me and the really expensive food!

Only caught the men's doubles with a smidge of Mixed Doubles fun but it was quite entertaining and enjoyable. Gael's sense of humor and court whimsy was delicious while Stan's serious nature kept the play grounded. They were like a court comedy team, Stan the straight man to Gael's goofy antics, the tennis worlds answer to Martin & Lewis or Abbott & Costello. Great tennis with real sweat, humor and action. I come every year and love it. The year I was high fived by both my all time favorite players Djokovic and Murray was the year I hardly washed that hand. An all time high in my life!!!

The seats at MSG were extremely uncomfortable for someone who is tall (5'11" and 6'4"). The event was scheduled for 7 pm and did not begin until approximately 7:50. There was a dance troupe, a choir singing 2 songs, and other tennis related presentations (which are to be expected) prior to the actual event. We only stayed until 8:30. No consideration for people who traveled to the event. Complete waste of money (2 tickets and 2 round trip LIRR tickets). Penn Station was also roach infested.

Wawrinka And Monfils gave a excellent and entertaining performance. The auditions participated which was great. The performance by the younger tennis players was an incentive for young people to get active and see that with hard work and dedication they too and became great. Williams and Wozniacki were awesome, I just love the doubles matchup and the open mic. My family and I had a wonderful experience,

Great amusement. Highly entertaining . The players had a great time. Monfils was great. He's a comedian.

This was an exhibition game and it not only showcased the talent of it's stars but those of young children starting to play the game. The players were having fun which you don't see in professional matches. That does not mean they did not want to win because that is inherent in their personalities but they were loose and not stressed by a lot of pressure. My husband and I celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary by attending this match up. It surprised me how many young children were in the audience on a school night but in retrospect how many opportunities will they be given to witness the greatest woman tennis player in the world show her skills. Ms. Serena Williams is a marvel to behold and was well worth the time and money we spent to see her. .

I was hoping to see them play competitively but they were just lazing around. Few times when they hit strong serve or good strokes, that was enjoyable, but it was almost negligible. Would not have gone if this was the case. one third of people left in-between.

Truly a fun night, hope to do this again next year

I loved the BNP Paribas Showdown but I wish my view of the court would have been better, for the amount of money I paid for the tickets;

had a good time , nice seat and excellent view, people were nice , the time was appropriate, it was fun, I laughed... And get to know people

Had a great time, was surprised that my less expensive seats were very good, my only complaint was it was a little late for a weeknight. I live in the burbs and I wasn't able to see the end of the main event.

Avid tennis fan but have only watched on TV. Attended this event to experience a match in person. Even though this was not a totally serious match, I did get a feel of a regular match. It was a great experience which I enjoyed.

They were goofing off and not playing for real at least half the time. Last year was much more interesting and entertaining. The players were weirdly matched and some had no business being there at all. If it wasn't for the discounted tickets we bought, the event would have been dissapointing. Save your money and go see some real Tennis at US Open.

This event lasted 4 hours, the play was serious and entertaining, and there were other events involving kids and the hall of fame.

The cost of the tickets was affordable to see such high profile amazing tennis players. They were quite entertaining and showed a lot of respect and love for the spectators.

Loved it! When I bought the tickets I thought that it was higher in the stadium but it was so close! The players were great and funny!

It was a fun evening and our seats were great for watching a tennis match.

This was my second time attending a BNP Paribas tennis event at MSG. My sister and I had so much fun. The atmosphere was great, as was the tennis. The guys, Gael Monfils and Stan Wawrinka were very entertaining. The highlight of the event was Serena Williams, of course, who played Carolina Wozniacki. They all looked great. I must say we also enjoyed the beef hot dogs and fries, too. It was a good time for all, and I will be going back next year.

I was so excited it was my first time seeing Serena play live and my favorite moment was having it with my mom because we are Serena Williams biggest fans from Philly!!!

BNP Paribas Showdown brought an unforgettable night of Tennis to NYC and MSG! The Men put on an awesome show, engaging the crowd and putting their humor to use alongside their amazing tennis skills! The feature match between Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki was far from a disappointment. I truly enjoyed how lighthearted their match was, including the prematch introduction that represented their status along with their documenting their friendship. Overall, a phenomenal experience. Can't wait for next year!

There was some great play and a bunch of fun mixed in. Seeing the pros up close is amazing. They're most impressively quick. TV doesn't seem to convey the scale of it.

I was excited to see the "greats" play... and I know this is just a showcase, not a tournament match, but I want to see them PLAY.... like they would in a tournament match. I don't think it was quite worth the $ per ticket to see them goofing around. Monfils is always exciting to watch him goof around, and we love to see that. I felt like I could have held my own out there with them if I had brought my sneakers and racquet. I expected a little more. But it was still fun, and nice that it's relaxed enough that they interact with the crowd.... but I wouldn't spend this much on tickets to see it.

It was well attended and entertaining. I would most definitely go again

These tennis exhibition matches are always a good time. Every year when they have it I go, it's fun seeing the players live that I watch and follow on TV or the internet. I highly recommend.

I love it. Was an amazing experiences. Next year I will repeat.

I have been to this event several times, and the 2017 version, with a team competition among eight rising stars and legendary male and female players was the most fun yet. Intended to leave early but could not pull myself away!

It was a great experience, i had great seats and was able to enjoy every play. To be able to see Roger & Grigor play so relaxed was a joy, every play was a work of art. TEnnis is such a beautiful sport. Gaby & Monica were great as well, played her best and was fun to see them play that good after so many years out of the courts.

I go every year, especially when Federer is playing. To watch Federer play Baby Fed aka Dimitrov was a BONUS. It was glorious tennis!!! Worth getting home after midnight and being sleep deprived the next day. Support tennis.

Amazing event for all tennis lovers! Got to see tennis greats and newcomers play a laid back and fun match with lots of laughs and trick shots.

A great night of tennis for the casual and hardcore fan! Got to know the players better with court side interviews, and with a fun it-doesn't-really-matters-who-wins attitude, the players' personalities really shone through! Now a Dimitrov fan, too! A great primer for falling in love with the game, in preparation for the U.S. Open! A great family event, too! A kid jumped in and "won" a point vs. Federer!

The players seemed to play hard, but still enjoyed themselves. I've been to a lot of tennis events, and this one was very enjoyable. Bringing a kid on the court and allowing him to play a point was a treat for the kid, and the fans.

Great time! Good seats for the match. You could see everything well, but you couldn't hear what the players were saying. It was a bit tight from person to person. If you are taller than 6'3 or weigh more than 250 lbs, you might be uncomfortable. The photo I posted from my seat was a little zoomed in.

I finally got to see my two favorite tennis stars, Serena Williams & Rafael Nadal. Myself & my two children enjoyed their performance, they interacted with the audience as well as took photos. This I can say was a wonderful experience for my kids, they are crying to go back.

I wanted to go to this event mainly to see Rafael Nadal, who is my favourite tennis player. He, along with Del Potro, Azarenka and S Williams made the whole event into a fabulous night's entertainment in a great venue. I travelled all the way from London to NYC for this event and it proved to be worth every penny spent. If ever Rafael Nadal is invited to play at The Garden again I would not hesitate to buy tickets.

A fun event, entertaining tennis matches, with crowd interaction

Had an awesome time. Very entertaining matches. Rafa is back! Bring moreTennis to the Garden.

I like that they had the children participate in the event. The players were vibrant and entertaining.

The event started at 7pm promptly, but we weren't able to get in until 10 minutes after. We missed the introductions. The only food that was offered near our seats was hamburgers, chicken fingers and fries and popcorn. I would think there would be something healthier or more of a selection. As for the tennis showdown, it was boring as hell. There was nothing fun about it and it just dragged on. Me and my friend, who paid $25.50 for a drink (double shot), left after 2 hours. We couldn't bear it any more. I haven't been to this event in a few years, but I do remember it being a lot better in the past. The players wore mikes and had a little back and forth action. We will not be back.

We had a good time because my wife and i really enjoy tennis.It really wasn't competitive but pretty friendly.Enjoyed the evening quite a bit.

Could not have asked for a better lineup of current and retired tennis players. However, the event was too ambitious for a week day night. In order to see the best tennis would have had to stay until at least 10.30pm.Unfortunately, had to take a 10.00pm train back to LI. The least interesting matches were front loaded and disappointed to have had to watch time killer mediocre match between Lleyton and Andy. To make the event better would have had Lleyton and Andy featured last. Felt ripped off by abbreviated evening to which I had been looking forward. Don't think I'll go again.

I love pro tennis. I found out at this year's BNP Paribas that I do not like World Team Tennis. I've been to this event in the past and it was not the WTT format, this was the first year they've tried this out. It felt less about seeing your favorite players and more about some kind of weird national pride thing. I found it a little distracting. Regardless, if I can get reasonably priced tickets and some of the players I want to see will be there, I find it worth it to go and see their game play in person.

I enjoyed the whole evening! The matches were interesting.

Being able to see the best of the best play amongst and against each other is truly wonderful. The atmosphere is very diverse and the players live up to every moment!

Enjoyed it as always,but... they say starting @7 prompt. That's the "fluff" before first players took court @7:20. Maybe they can start @6pm and tennis @ 6:15 pm?? Have to take 1hour train back home so I always have to leave before the matches are done as I just can't get home at 2 am the next day.(I also have a drive from the train station).The main player I came to see this year was Juan Martin del Potro & I had to leave during the match before his and never got to see him play the singles match. Don't mind paying for tickets, just wish there was more tennis,less "fluff" and it started and ended earlier so for once I could see all of this event.

This is such an amazing event. We had 4th row seats and we were so close to players!! So much fun!

Player party was great. Event was a nice format for fans. A little disorganized at the beginning. Confusion on which VIP events individuals were supposed to go to. Food was great too.

Great time! A nice change from competitive matches.

Initially, I was excited when I arrived at Madison Square Garden. I brought my still camera to take photos of Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewit, Jack Sock, Nick Kyrigos, Venus Williams, Juan Martin Del Potro, Garbine Marguraza, and Kei Nishikorie!!! I didn't get one photo!!! At the gate, I was forced to check in my my camera to security!!! They said no pictures were allowed at this event!!! I have photographed several time when I attended the BNP Paribas Showdown in the past years. My photos were so so, because of the limitations of my lens. Finally, I got a quality l lens capable of adequately handling the Garden's lighting, and I am not allowed to us it. I was highly upset, and I tried to enjoy the festivities, but I only stayed through two matches. The event started at 7pm and I left around 8:30pm. While there, I saw a photographer who said he worked for for a wire service, whose name I will not mention. He said I could buy the photographs there. So, I said I'll check it out. When I got home and searched the site for this event, the price was $575 per photograph. The fan cannot win!!! MSG was making money on tickets and food and drinks!!! How can the fan win!!! This whole experience has lessened my experience for MSG. I am contemplating not returning, unless they change their policy of no cameras!!!

Great experience to see such stars showcasing their skills.

More tennis stars than in past years! They used World Team Tennis format, but it seemed like the players tried to keep the scores close and generally the sets were decided by a tie-break. While it is great to see these players up close, and some were comfortable interacting with the audience, they were not as match tough and competitive as when they are playing the big tournaments. I would prefer to see their best tennis, but appreciate that we get to see their personalities shine through.

Good choice of players for both doubles and singles, every match close and short enough to keep things moving.

It was a good evening to celebrate tennis and showcase several players in one night.

Seeing 8 of the world's top tennis stars in one intimate event was great. Some people don't like exhibitions because it is not real hard fought tennis, but I like it because the players joke around and you get to see a little of their personality. However, perhaps mics on the players might have helped us hear what they were saying. I will need to watch the TV replay to find out. Also, it went from 7-11pm. Probably one hour too long. Since it wasn't really riveting, captivating tennis, it got a little boring at the end. Lots of people left early.

The tennis was great; the MSG experience was not. When we arrived before 7 pm (starting time) there was a 20 minute delay getting through security. There were obviously not enough stations to check bags and send people through metal detectors. So we missed a chuck of the first match. The light sticks that were given out were fun. When leaving about 10 pm, the down escalators were turned off; why? This makes for a clunking walk sown many levels. I think the Garden can do better on security streamlining and escalators. Lynne

I had an amazing time . My tickets were very affordable and on the lover level. I got to see some of the bearer tennis supper stars and Sereena Williams up close .

Attending an event at Madison Square Garden was an experience in and of itself. Everyone under that roof is a professional - ushers, vendors, security guards - everyone. I am lucky to have been able to see Federer. What a sports person - in the true sense of the word.

It was a smooth process and I got great seats! I'm very happy to have bought my tickets through ticketmaster!

Great venue - my first time at MSG and would definitely go again. Could do with more of a 'show' like music, etc. but that's just me. My only comparison is the O2 in London for the ATP World Tour Finals and London was way better, but then it isn't and exhibition! Had a great time. Will consider coming next year with similar seats!

Been here 3rd year in a row and the organization is always amazing, and really great to see the top players play in this exhibition match - outside of the usually extremely competitive tournaments that they play in. Always fun.

What a great experience. To see Roger Federer in person playing against a worthy opponent was a tennis fans dream come true. It was super to see Seles as well.

It was great seeing Monica Seles & Gabriella Sabatini playing again, but the highlight of the night was watching Federer & Dimitrov play 3 sets. Even though it was an exhibition, the shot making was fantastic! And it was great to see Federer smiling and enjoying himself. Dimitrov showed such a personality! It was just great!

I loved the BNP Paribas Showdown. the caliber of the tennis was superb; high quality and entertaining!!

Enjoyed the match up. I attend every year and enjoyed the comedy in every match. Enjoyed the match up with Federer and young boy.

gabrielle sabatini looked unbelievable! match w/ federer was terrific and they had a lot of fun and made fun trick shots. dimitrov even brought out a kid to play a point. great time.

sles and sabatini played beautifully and roger and dmitrov played amazing points- bring both back- would also love to see rafter again... the elevator guys were great and concession people and ushers- I was surprised the chairs were so closs together it was nearly impossible to get by without discomforting everyone the security lines were very disorganized- there has to be a better way.

This was a fun evening. Selas and Sabatini were weak. I think next year there needs to be a higher level of play for the opening round. Last year the openers were also too weak - John and Patrick against the brothers.

Watching Federer vs. Dimitrov was a real treat at Madison Square Garden! Loved the amazing shots! And seeing Sabatini look so great after a long hiatus from tennis was a bonus!

It was a super event. Great to see Roger Federer live.

It was my first tennis match and it was so amazing, it's not the last time I'm going to MSG!!

I love to see Federer play and it was a real thrill to see him from the second row...The players were wonderful....but I can't help but wonder who organized the event. It was a mess! Complete sections were filled with guests who were "comped" and who knew nothing about tennis. I feel they were very rude to the players when they left well before the event was over. They were asked to remain seated until the breaks in the action....they didn't respect that request. The chair ump was off in his scoring most of the time and seriously....one line judge who had to keep running from side to side.Send a few bucks and spring for the usual two! Event the player intros were messed up....you never intro the champ first! I loved the actual tennis and its participants....not a fan of whoever organized the event. 2012 had much better organization.

Special event. Very well organized . High level . As a failure, the lack of structure for sale of products of the event and the players.

The experience was great. I wish there was less clowning around in the 3rd set and Federer did not lose a point to a kid (kid was excellent at tennis). It turned out to be "fun match," but for $171, you want a more competitive match throughout.

I always wanted to see Federer. Even though I was not in the front row, It felt great just being there in the same space as he was. I look forward to another occasion to see another Player.

"The Maestro" didn't disappoint, and Dmitrov's pretty cute too :-) some amazing exchanges, and very nice feeling between them

Great match, lots of fun! Hope to see them playing here next year.

Had an awesome time watching Federer and Seles. Amazing!

MSG, as a venue, does not disappoint. Unfortunately, the escalators were not working, and that was a problem, especially when all of those people were leaving at once at the end of the night.. Seles and Sabatini were good - and that part of the show was enjoyable. Watching the kids was also entertaining. Roger and Grigor, however, were phenomenal. Their court demeanor was great - focused on hitting good shots and trying to win, but also cheery and friendly to the audience and to each other. The camaraderie between the pros was commendable, and the audience seemed to love every minute of it. Mary Jo Fernandez was charming and she looked beautiful. A fine night for all.

Loved the chance to see Roger Federer in the Garden! He doesn't just move on the court, he dances@

Excellent playing but also a lot of fun. Was much more enjoyable (and comfortable!) than the U.S. Open. I'll save grand-slam tennis for TV at home, and I'll definitely attend exhibition matches at MSG more often.

The show was amazing. I enjoyed watching both the ladies' and men's matches. I have never seen Gabriela Sabatini and Monica Seles play live, and Grigor Dimitrov and Roger Federer are my two favorite tennis players. They played a very entertaining match. The organization was perfect as well. Everything was great! I have been on all of the events with Roger Federer at MSG and will never forget any of them.

It was great to see Federer play, the match is more fun than competitive. But it was good. Enjoyed it.

I will definitely add this to my "Events I do Annually" list.

Seeing Roger Federer play tennis at MSG was a wonderful experience and I can highly recommend any tennis fan to experience seeing their favourite player at this venue. The seats are brilliant and afford a great view, the atmosphere is electric and the natives are friendly! It was great fun and I'd do it again!

The women were fun but the match was too short. The guys were fun as well but not enough sets!

We pretty much paid for these tickets to see Federer play since we didn't get to at the US Open few years in a row. Overall the games were boring .. there were some good plays with the men's match but overall it was not exciting. Pros - It's more personal where the players converse and joke with the audience - Roger Federer (it was very nice to see him play finally and he is smooth) Cons - The players are not playing with the same intensity as US Open - The crowd just chant stuff like "don't us down Roger" whenever they want compare to the US Open - There were way too many commercials and awards

Wonderful night and two great games, especially the men's one！Hope I can be there again!

This was such a great exhibition match. The players looked like they were having sooo much fun. The fans were clearly there to see Roger Federer, but I was rooting for Grigor Dimitrov. For it to be an exhibition match, they did not seem to hold back and gave their fans a great show!

Great event!....................................................

It was a great event with even better players! Would definitely go again!