20 October 2010
Tennis legends arrive in good spirits for Chengdu Open
Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras makes China debut
The legendary players that will contest the second annual Chengdu Open from October 21-24, 2010 have arrived at the stadium ready to play. The all-star lineup together holds a combined 158 ATP World Tour singles titles and 83 ATP World Tour doubles titles. Seven of the players are former top 5 ATP Tour players; all eight players were ranked within the top 10.
The first three days of round robin play pits fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras (USA), against Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash (AUS), Davis Cup winner Guy Forget (FRA), and Thai sensation Paradorn Srichaphan (THA) in Group A. In Group B, former ATP Tour singles and doubles No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS), US Open Finalist Greg Rusedski (GB), and two-time US Open Champion Pat Rafter (AUS) will all attempt to unseat defending Chengdu Champion Thomas Enqvist (SWE). The winner in each group will advance to the final on Sunday, while the second-place finishers in each group will play-off for third place.
Chengdu Sports Bureau Director-General Mr. Qin Wenlin said, "Last November the players put on a display of competitive and exciting tennis for Chengdu's local tennis fans, bringing to the city a wave of tennis fever! This year, Pete Sampras and Paradorn Srichaphan plus many more champions will gather in our city and showcase their brand of tennis, further promoting the development of tennis the general public of Chengdu."
After Sampras won his 2008 ATP Champions Tour debut in Sao Paolo by defeating Marcelo Rios in the finals 6-2, 7-6(5), he also competed in the 2008 year-end BlackRock Masters Tennis, posting a 6-3, 6-4 victory over John McEnroe and a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win over Jeremy Bates before being edged by Cedric Pioline 7-6(7), 7-6(5). He did not play on the ATP Champions Tour in 2009, but came to China this year because as he explained, "It's a different part of the world that I've wanted to see. It's nice to be here, see some of these old competitors I used to play in the ‘90s, and I heard it's such a great event from the guys last year that were here. I don't play much, so to come here is a big effort. I want to take advantage of it, hopefully play well, and the people will enjoy it."
True to playful form, when asked how he could top his entertaining antics from last year, Cash replied, "I'm going to have some fun. The first thing I'll do is beat Pete Sampras very badly. That will make me very popular, and I will give away all my headbands and my clothes like last year. I was almost naked going onto the plane last year. I had nothing left, but I'm happy to do that again this year for the people of Chengdu." He then added, "I brought all the headbands I have," referring to his penchant for throwing his trademark black-and-white checkered headbands into the crowd.
Vice-President of the Chinese Tennis Association and the Deputy Director-General Tennis Administration Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, Mr. Li You Lin said, "Sampras, Srichaphan and other excellent tennis masters competing in the ATP Champions Tour's second visit to Chengdu will certainly establish an even more widespread and popular base for tennis in Chengdu."