The Frank Erwin Center has hosted mammoth music acts and sporting events since its inception and will continue that trend this summer by hosting the Davis Cup quarterfinals on July 8-10, a premier international team event in men’s tennis.

Traditionally this news would be cause for excitement, but even moreso as these quarterfinals will be between Spain, a team featuring the world's No.1 ranked player, Rafael Nadal, and a United States squad led by Austin's own Andy Roddick. These two are arguably the best players in the world at any given time, and shaping up to be the Sampras/Agassi of this decade.

For those not familiar with tennis, let me interpret: Imagine if you will that Radiohead and The National were to have a battle of the bands in your high school gymnasium. An even better analogy would be if Häagen-Dazs came to Zilker Park and got into a banana-split-making contest with our beloved Amy’s Ice Cream. This is the same as Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin coming to Bat City and competing with Gov. Rick Perry in a fiscally irresponsible contest.

This pinnacle of men’s team tennis, which began in 1900 between our British friends and our own United States of America, has seen the U.S. and Spain combine to win three of the past four Davis Cups, with the U.S. winning in 2007 and Spain taking the cup in 2008 and 2009. Serbia won last year. Austin was one of three finalists for the cup quarterfinals along with our neighbors, San Antonio, and Albany, N.Y. Roddick reportedly lobbied for his hometown to host. Regardless, this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for our city.

Tickets go on sale Monday, April 4, for USTA members; Friday, April 8 for the general public. With only 15,000 seats available tickets will go fast.