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Tennis Event Buzz Builds

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By DAREK SHARP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2008

PLANT CITY - The gaining celebrity of Mardy Fish has added to the excitement surrounding the Canon Tennis Challenge of Tampa Bay, now a month away.

And the cost of attending the event has recently become more affordable. Event organizer Rhett Rollyson recently announced that general admission is $75 for the charity event, which will feature Fish taking on fellow American star John Isner at courts at Mayor Rick Lott's home.

Fish competed for the United States in the Davis Cup semifinals, winning a doubles match against Spain. Since the Plant City exhibition was originally formed, Fish has gone from being ranked ninth among American players to third, behind superstars Andy Roddick and James Blake. Fish is No. 23 in the world in the last ATP Tennis rankings.

Rollyson stressed that though the Fish-Isner matchup, which begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 8, is the main event, there's plenty more to see and do leading up to it.

"We'll have football showing on the big screens all afternoon, and we expect to have some big-time amateur players in the preliminary matches, so it's a tennis-themed party, really," Rollyson said. Gates open at 2 p.m. with preliminary matches to begin at 2:30.

Rollyson will serve as master of ceremonies for a VIP cocktail party Nov. 7. Attendees will enjoy food, drinks and music and there will be an auction featuring products from the sponsors. And Fish and Isner will be on hand to meet the fans. VIP tickets are $150.

For information, go to www.tampabayprotennis.com or call Rollyson at (813) 719-0158.

Lott lives at 3200 Polo Place.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampa trib.com.

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