Andy Roddick, James Blake to play match in Richmond

By JOHN PACKETT
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
Published: June 17, 2008

After a one-year absence, the sound of tennis balls being hit back and forth will be heard again in the Siegel Center.

Andy Roddick and James Blake, the top two American men’s players, will meet in an exhibition Sept. 12 as part of the AnthemLIVE! event, an annual fundraiser to support cancer research.

Joining Roddick and Blake will be the world’s No. 1 doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan. In addition to the Roddick-Blake singles match, there will be a doubles pairing, with the teams to be determined.

The evening will begin at 7 p.m., with proceeds benefiting research at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Tickets, which range from $15 to $125, went on sale yesterday at the VCU box office (804-828-7267) or by visiting http://www.siegelcenter.com.

Both Blake and Roddick will be making their second appearance at the Siegel Center. Roddick, who is ranked sixth in the world heading into Wimbledon, was here in 2005. Blake, who is ranked No. 8, played here in 2006.

All four players are members of the Davis Cup team that won the international competition last year and will be meeting Spain in the semifinals this year Sept. 19-21 in Madrid.

Since its inception five years ago, AnthemLIVE! has raised more than $2.5 million for cancer research. Blake’s father, Thomas, died of cancer in 2004.

The past three AnthemLIVE! events have been held at the Constant Center in Norfolk.

Contact John Packett at (804) 649-6313 or .