Turnieje weteranów

[DUN I LOVE]

Oficjalna strona:
http://www.atpchampionstour.com/index.html

[Joao]

Pete Sampras został triumfatorem amerykańskiej serii turniejów weteranów Champions Series.

Ranking:

1. Sampras 2200
2. Courier 1600
3. Agassi 1500
4. Chang 1100
5. Martin 900
5. McEnroe 900
7. Connors 200
8. Lendl 100
8. Wilander 100

Wyniki:

Sept. 22, 2011
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sampras def. Chang 6-4
Courier def. Connors 7-5
Final: Sampras def. Courier 8-6

Sept. 23, 2011
Washington, D.C.
Chang def. Sampras 6-4
Courier def. Agassi 7-6 (4)
Final: Chang def. Courier 8-3


Sept. 24, 2011
Philadelphia, PA
Agassi def. Courier 6-3
Sampras def. Connors 6-4
Final: Sampras def. Agassi 8-7 (5)


Sept. 30, 2011
Minneapolis, MN
Chang def. Courier, 6-4
Martin def. Agassi, 6-4
Final: Martin def. Chang, 8-5

Oct. 1, 2011
Boston, MA
Courier def. Chang, 6-3
Agassi def. Lendl, 7-5
Final: Agassi def. Courier, 8-5


Oct. 8, 2011
Surprise, AZ
Courier def. Wilander, 6-3
Sampras def. Chang, 6-3
Final: Sampras def. Courier, 8-7 (4)


Oct. 13, 2011
Seattle, WA
Chang def. Courier, 6-4
Sampras def. McEnroe, 6-4
Final: Sampras def. Chang, 8-4

Oct. 14, 2011
Los Angeles, CA
Sampras def. Courier, 7-6 (3)
Agassi def. McEnroe, 6-3
Final: Sampras def. Agassi, 8-6

Oct. 15, 2011
Las Vegas, NV
Sampras def. McEnroe, 6-4
Agassi def. Courier, 6-3
Final: Agassi def. Sampras, 8-5

Oct. 20, 2011
Chicago, IL
Courier def. Martin, 6-3
Agassi def. McEnroe, 6-4
Final: Courier def. Agassi, 8-7 (3)

Oct. 20, 2011
Chicago, IL
Courier def. Martin, 6-3
Agassi def. McEnroe, 6-4
Final: Courier def. Agassi, 8-7 (3)

Oct. 22, 2011
Buffalo, NY
Martin def. Chang, 6-2
McEnroe def. Courier, 6-3
Final: McEnroe def. Martin , 8-5

[Joao]

ATP Champios Tour wyniki:

Delray Beach - Mark Philippoussis Aaron Krickstein 6–3, 6–2

Zurich - Mark Philippoussis Tim Henman 6-3, 7-6(3)

Bogota - Mark Philippoussis Carlos Moya 7-5, 6-7(3), [10-4]

Sao Paulo - Carlos Moyá Thomas Enqvist 7-6(0), 6-3

Knokke-Heist - Carlos Moyá Richard Krajicek 6-3, 6-2

Chengdu - Carlos Moyá Younes El Aynaoui 6-2, 7-6(6)

Ranking:

1. Carlos Moya 1500
2. M. Philippoussis 1280
3. Thomas Enqvist 530
4. Y. El Aynaoui 450
5. Mats Wilander 350
6. Thomas Muster 340
7. Tim Henman 300
7. Richard Krajicek 300
7. Aaron Krickstein 300
10. Pete Sampras 280

[DUN I LOVE]

Trwa turniej ATP Champions Tour w Santiago, gdzie Carlos Moya walczy z Markiem Phillipoussisem o fotel lidera.

Przebieg turnieju:
http://www.atpchampionstour.com/results.html

Więcej o chilijskiej imprezie:
http://www.atpchampionstour.com/santiago.html

[Joao]

McEnroe and Rafter to play in Adelaide

Spoiler:

World Tennis Challenge Directors today announced the strongest line up for the fourth event to be held 10-12 January 2012 at Memorial Drive.

Roger Rasheed, Co-Director today confirmed legendary John McEnroe has again signed for his third year with Team America whilst Australia’s favourite Patrick Rafter will headline Team Australia.

“We are thrilled Australia’s Davis Cup captain and house hold name Pat Rafter has signed onto play the tournament. We know how competitive John is, and after Pat winning last time (8-6) we are anticipating sensational tennis between these two great legends” said Rasheed.

“McEnroe’s return to Adelaide is a coup for the event and South Australians continue to embrace him” Rasheed continues.

To partner John McEnroe in Team America former Top 5 player and ‘sexiest man alive’ nominee James Blake has confirmed his participation with Alexandr Dolgopolov (ATP ranked No.16) partnering Rafter in Team Australia, fittingly due to his connection with his coach being Adelaide’s Jack Reader.

Crowd favourite Henri Leconte, coach of Gael Monfils will partner with Michael Llodra (ATP ranked No.29) which is assured to entertain crowds due to their wit and skilful shots in Team Europe.

The World Tennis Challenge is also excited to have enticed one of the game’s greatest strategists, Brad Gilbert best known as former coach of Agassi, Roddick and Murray to represent Team International. Brad is back from behind the commentary mic – and partnered with 2011 Australian Open Quarter Finalist Stanislas Wawrinka (ATP ranked#19).

The incredible Mansour Bahrami, the ‘world’s greatest tennis entertainer’ will play as wildcard.

Tourism Minister Gail Gago said the World Tennis Challenge had proved to be a fantastic event for South Australia

“Last year the WTC and associated Be Active Challenge participation event attracted 3665 visitors, generating more than $4.1 million in visitor expenditure for the state and an attendance of 15,122 people,” the Minister said.

“The event was broadcast live via Fox Sports, with an additional 35 hours of replay coverage into 30 countries.

“I congratulate the organisers on again attracting a quality field of players to entertain spectators, promote tennis and deliver tourism benefits to South Australia.”

The full player line up for the 2012 World Tennis Challenge is:

Team Tennis Legend Current Champion

Australasia Pat Rafter Alexandr Dolgopolov

Europe Henri Leconte Michael Llodra

International Brad Gilbert Stanislas Wawrinka

The Americas John McEnroe James Blake

Wildcard Mansour Bahrami

http://www.tennis.com.au/news/2011/11/0 ... -challenge

[Art]

Dojrzałość na luzie
Krzysztof Rawa

Starzy mistrzowie rakiety nie rdzewieją. Kto chce i może, wraca na kort. Kibice, sponsorzy i turnieje czekają

Psychologowie mówią, że każdy wielki sportowiec zaczyna tęsknić za rywalizacją mniej więcej po dwóch latach od zakończenia kariery. O tę tęsknotę legend tenisa zaczęto dbać jakieś 20 lat temu, gdy w Indian Wells odbył się pierwszy turniej nowego cyklu ATP Senior Tour.

Zaczynali nieśmiało, zepchnięci na boczne korty przy okazji Wielkiego Szlema lub innych turniejów, godzili się na pokazówki. Szybko okazało się, że ludzie to lubią, że połączenie nostalgii, zabawy i poważnej rywalizacji z klasą dawnych mistrzów daje niespodziewanie dobry efekt.

Drogę przetarł Jimmy Connors ze swym własnym amerykańskim cyklem zawodów dla tenisistów, którzy ukończyli 35 lat. Wprawdzie złośliwi twierdzili (nie bez racji), że zrobił to głównie z powodu swojej niegasnącej chęci wygrywania, ale fakty były za nim: w 1993 roku zaczynał z trzema turniejami, po zdobyciu sponsora, firmy Nuveen, cykl urósł do ponad 20 turniejów rocznie. Zanim zgasł na przełomie wieków, wędrował nie tylko po USA, ale był w Japonii, Rosji i RPA, w finale mistrzowie walczyli o 300 tys. dolarów.

Wiary i zapału starczyło również działaczom ATP, którzy wciąż organizowali Senior Tour, głównie w miastach europejskich. W 1997 roku przekształcili cykl w zawody światowe z wielkim finałem, czyli Masters, w Londynie. Dziś cykl nazywa się ATP Champions Tour, trwa od lutego do końca listopada, w 2011 składa się z ośmiu przystanków w atrakcyjnych miejscach świata: od Florydy przez Kolumbię, Brazylię, Chiny po Wielką Brytanię. Rok temu było dziesięć turniejów, za dwa lata ma być dwanaście.

Reguły uczestnictwa są następujące: grający muszą wycofać się z aktywnego życia sportowego w ATP Tour, mieć w dorobku numer 1 rankingu światowego, grę w singlowym finale Wielkiego Szlema lub grę singlową w drużynie, która zdobyła Puchar Davisa. W każdym turnieju jest miejsce dla ośmiu tenisistów. Format rywalizacji jest zbliżony do Masters (mecze w dwóch grupach, potem o pierwsze i trzecie miejsce), tylko zamiast trzeciego seta jest mistrzowski tie-break, do 10 punktów.

Legendy bardzo polubiły tę zabawę. Turnieje ATP Champions Tour wyglądają dziś jak ożywiona encyklopedia wielkiego tenisa. John McEnroe, Bjoern Borg, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Goran Ivanisević, Stefan Edberg, Richard Krajicek, Pat Cash i wielu innych, bywa, że jedna impreza gromadzi osoby, które mają, licząc z deblem i mikstem, kilkadziesiąt tytułów Wielkiego Szlema.

W cyklu nie ma nagród pieniężnych. Mistrzowie otrzymują negocjowane indywidualnie wynagrodzenie za pojawienie się na turnieju. Kilka lat temu była duża nagroda dla zwycięzcy cyklu (brał wszystko), ale eksperyment spowodował zwiększone zainteresowanie startem gwiazd jednego uderzenia – serwisu i halowe mecze stały się zwyczajnie nudne, bez wymian.

Dbanie o rozrywkę widzów jest w tych turniejach ważne, bo uczestnicy świetnie wiedzą, że sam tenis dojrzałych mężczyzn nie wystarczy. Nie są to jednak turnieje czysto pokazowe. Głównie dzięki ambicji i zaangażowaniu Johna McEnroe rywalizacja stała się wiarygodna. McEnroe złamał zasadę „uderz i chichocz”, pokazał, że z szacunku dla widzów i siebie warto zrzucić brzuch i trenować całkiem poważnie. Wygrywał tak długo, aż większość startujących pojęła, że legendy też obowiązuje reżim ćwiczeń.

Jim Courier zachęcony startem w Europie podjął w USA dzieło Connorsa i ze specjalistami od marketingu sportowego stworzył działający od 2005 roku cykl Champions Series, czyli 12 czteroosobowych turniejów sław (grają półfinały i finał) rozgrywanych w pięć jesiennych tygodni. Dla 30-latków, którzy byli w pierwszej piątce rankingu ATP lub mieli sukcesy w Wielkim Szlemie i Pucharze Davisa.

Też odniósł sukces, skusił Andre Agassiego, Samprasa, Changa i innych, może dlatego, że najlepsi dostają jednak nagrody na koniec roku: mistrz cyklu 0,5 mln dolarów, wicemistrz 350 tysięcy, a trzeci – 150 tys.

Większość byłych gwiazd twierdzi jednak jednym głosem: gramy, bo tenis to nasza pasja, bo możemy być razem na luzie, bez dawnych stresów i napięcia, bo wygrywanie jeszcze nas kręci, ale gdy turniej się kończy, to żadna z porażek nie oznacza końca świata.

http://www.rp.pl/artykul/123162,750984- ... sters.html

[robpal]

Za tydzień w turnieju ATP Champions Tour zagra Magik Santoro
Świetna wiadomość!

[Barty]

Turniej z serii ATP Champions Tour w Londynie wygrał Tim Henman pokonując w finale Thomasa Enqvista ( ) 6/3 7/6(2).

[Joao]

Ranking ATP Champions Tour na koniec sezonu:

1 Carlos Moya 1900
2 Mark Philippoussis 1655
3 Thomas Enqvist 910
4 Tim Henman 700
5 Younes El Aynaoui 530
6 Thomas Muster 490
7 Mats Wilander 350
8 Richard Krajicek 300
8 Aaron Krickstein 300
8 Mariano Zabaleta 300

[Sempere]

Byłe gwiazdy tenisa zagrają w Polsce



W dniach 27-30 września w Polsce odbędzie się turniej byłych gwiazd tenisa. Impreza znalazła się w kalendarzu ATP Champions Tour.

Licencję na organizację turnieju otrzymała na trzy lata firma Sport Events Sp. z o.o., która obecnie prowadzi negocjacje w sprawie lokalizacji. Będzie to pierwsza impreza z tego cyklu w Europie Środkowej.

Regulamin ATP Champions Tour mówi, że mogą w nim uczestniczyć zawodnicy, którzy ukończyli 35. rok życia i zakończyli zawodową karierę. Poza tym muszą jeszcze spełnić przynajmniej jedno z kryteriów: przynajmniej przez tydzień znajdować się na prowadzeniu w rankingu ATP World Tour, mieć na koncie triumf lub występ w finale jednego z czterech turniejów zaliczanych do Wielkiego Szlema albo mieć na koncie grę w singlowym pojedynku w zwycięskiej drużynie w rozgrywkach o Puchar Davisa.

Oznacza to, że w Polsce mogą wystąpić np. Amerykanie Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Ivan Lendl czy Michael Chang, Szwedzi Stefan Edberg, Bjoern Borg i Mats Wilander, Australijczycy Patrick Rafter, Pat Cash i Mark Philippoussis, Chorwat Goran Ivanisevic, Rosjanin Jewgienij Kafielnikow, Austriak Thomas Muster czy też Niemiec Boris Becker.

W czterodniowej imprezie wystartuje co najmniej sześciu zawodników spełniających ten punkt regulaminu. Organizatorzy mają bowiem możliwość przyznania dwóch "dzikich kart", na przykład Polakom czy specjalnie zaproszonym byłym tenisistom.

http://beta.sportowefakty.pl/tenis/2651 ... a-w-polsce

[DUN I LOVE]

Czołówka rankingu po 3 turniejach sezonu 2012:

1. Carlos Moya 800
2. John McEnroe 400
3. Stefan Edberg 380
4. Ivan Lendl 300
4. Magnus Larsson 300
6. Pat Cash 220
7. Mikael Pernfors 210
8. Goran Ivanisevic 200
8. Michael Chang 200
8. Mark Philippoussis 200

W sobotę zakończył się turniej w Zurychu - trzecia tegoroczna eliminacja. W finale Carlos Moya pokonał Stefana Edberga 3-6, 7-5, 10-8.

[Sempere]

Latka lecą, a Jasio McEnroe dalej w niezłej formie.

[Joao]

Turniej serii Atp Champios tour ma odbyć się w tym roku we wrześniu we wrocławskiej hali Orbita.

[jaccol55]

W Londynie rozgrywany jest turniej Statoil Masters Tennis.

Podział na grupy:

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ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR STANDINGS

GROUP A
Tim Henman
Thomas Enqvist
Goran Ivanievic

GROUP B
Fabrice Santoro
Mark Philippoussis
Carlos Moya

---

LEGENDS STANDINGS

GROUP A
John McEnroe
Guy Forget
Jeremy Bates

GROUP B
Henri Leconte
Mats Wilander
Pat Cash

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Dotychczasowe wyniki:

Fabrice Santoro d. Mark Philippoussis 7-6(12), 6-3
Tim Henman d. Thomas Enqvist 6-7(4), 6-3, 11-9
Thomas Enqvist d. Goran Ivanisevic 7-6(6), 6-4

Legends - Mats Wilander d. Pat Cash 4-6, 6-3, 10-6
Legends - Henri Leconte d. Pat Cash 6-3, 6-2
Legends - John McEnroe d. Jeremy Bates 6-4, 6-1

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Artykuły, jakie pojawiły się na temat turnieju:

McEnroe Is Back; Cash vs. Wilander Opens Statoil Masters

Spoiler:

John McEnroe arrives in London on the day that the man he beat in the final of last year’s Statoil Masters Tennis Legends tournament - Pat Cash - starts his 2012 campaign against Mats Wilander.

While McEnroe gets his campaign underway on Thursday, Cash and Wilander open the tournament at 1pm local time on Wednesday.

Cash and McEnroe could meet in the final again after avoiding each other in the round-robin stages. McEnroe has drawn Jeremy Bates and Ivan Lendl while Cash and Wilander are in with Henri Leconte. The top player in each group will meet in Sunday’s final. Between them, the six players have won 23 Grand Slam singles titles.

Over the years, Cash and Wilander faced each other nine times, with Cash leading their head-to-head 5-4. Their most memorable clash came in the final of the Australian Open in 1988. Cash was attempting to become the first home winner of the tournament since Mark Edmondson 12 years earlier, but he was defeated 6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 6-1, 8-6 in the final.

In the younger ATP Champions Tour event, Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic have been drawn together and will face each other on Saturday night as part of the Winter Whites Gala in aid of the charity Centrepoint. Henman, the defending champion, will meet the man he beat in last year’s final on Wednesday - Thomas Enqvist.

In the other group, Wimbledon runner-up Mark Philippoussis, former World No.1 Carlos Moya, who is making his debut at the event, and Frenchman Fabrice Santoro will battle it out for a final place. Philippoussis and Santoro will clash on Wednesday afternoon with Moya playing his first match on Thursday.

In doubles action on Wednesday, Ivanisevic and Bates take on Ferreira and Leconte in the afternoon, with Mansour Bahrami and Andrew Castle up against Peter McNamara and Santoro in the evening.

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http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... eview.aspx

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Henman vs. Ivanisevic On Ice; Lendl Forced To Withdraw

Spoiler:

Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic
played tennis on an ice rink
Wednesday in London.

Tim Henman began his Statoil Masters title defense in style in London on Wednesday by beating Thomas Enqvist at the Royal Albert Hall, only a few hours after clashing with Goran Ivanisevic on an ice rink!

Henman, who beat Enqvist in last year’s final to win his first ATP Champions Tour event, won 6-7(4), 6-3, 11-9 (Champions’ Tie-Break). Earlier in the day, in preparation for his Saturday night clash with Ivanisevic at the Winter Whites Gala, Henman and his old rival took to the ice rink at the Natural History Museum.

"I think it would be pretty quick playing on this (ice)!,” said Henman. “It’s great to be back in London, the Statoil Masters is such a fantastic event. There’s a lot of amazing buildings and architecture in London and the Royal Albert Hall is very, very special so I always look forward to getting back out there."

Elsewhere, Fabrice Santoro got off to a winning start against Mark Philippoussis, winning a stunning first set tie-break 14-12 before triumphing 7-6(12), 6-3.

In the Legends group, Mats Wilander won a thriller against Pat Cash. He triumphed 4-6, 6-3, 10-6 in a Champions’ Tie-Break, but admitted it was just as tough as the score suggests.

"At the end of that first set I was nervous believe it or not!” said Wilander. “I choked a bit and then suddenly he had won the first set 6-4. It felt good though.

“I love this court. It's great for serve and volley because the ball stays low with a slice serve and kicks up high with the kick serve so we should see some great tennis this week.

"It's amazing that on a Wednesday afternoon, two 48-year-olds are playing tennis in front of a pretty much packed house in the Royal Albert Hall. That's the beauty of this event and the Royal Albert Hall, it's special.

"It's fun to get a win. We all play to compete, we all play to play well and we all play to have fun, and if you do get a win that's even more fun. But as a tennis player it's always one match at a time and at our age it's one morning at a time."

HIP AND KNEE INJURIES FORCE LENDL TO WITHDRAW

Ivan Lendl has been forced to withdraw from the Statoil Masters Tennis event, because of injuries to his knee and hip.

Lendl was due to make his debut at the tournament, which is now in its 16th year, and despite giving himself as long as possible to be fit, he was forced to admit defeat. He will be replaced in Group A of the Legends tournament by Guy Forget of France.

“I am very disappointed that I will not be fit enough to play in the Statoil Masters Tennis in London,” said Lendl, who now coaches Britain's Andy Murray.

“I have been looking forward to playing in the tournament all year having heard so much about it. For now I will concentrate on fixing and rehabilitating my knee and hip but I hope to be able to play at the Royal Albert Hall in the future.”

Lendl’s withdrawal means that Forget will now face John McEnroe on Friday night and Jeremy Bates on Saturday afternoon. On the ATP Champions Tour, some of the matches between Forget and McEnroe have been electric affairs. One match in Dublin saw a frustrated McEnroe put his foot through an advertising hoarding. He then swiped a matching hole in the advertising board on the other side of the court. In their careers before retirement, they played four times, winning two apiece.

The rest of the Legends tournament features 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, former World No.1 Mats Wilander, ever-popular Henri Leconte, and former British No.1 Jeremy Bates.

In the ATP Champions Tour event, Tim Henman, Goran Ivanisevic, Mark Philippoussis, Carlos Moya, Fabrice Santoro and Thomas Enqvist will do battle.

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http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... Recap.aspx

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McEnroe Celebrates Return With Emphatic Win

Spoiler:

John McEnroe avenged his 2008
loss to Jeremy Bates.

Four years ago at the Royal Albert Hall, John McEnroe lost 11-9 in a final set Champions’ Tie-Break to Jeremy Bates, and decided that it was time to bow out of his favourite ATP Champions Tour event for good.

But on Thursday, at the Statoil Masters Tennis, McEnroe avenged his defeat to Bates 6-4, 6-1 and knew that he had made the right decision to return to the event, which now sees an older ‘Legends’ tournament alongside Pat Cash, Henri Leconte and Mats Wilander.

“It’s incredible to play here, it’s the best spot on the Tour, and I thought I was done (four years ago),” said McEnroe afterwards.

“A couple of years away gave me some perspective, my legs felt healthier to let me get back here again, and I hope I can lift something up - a cup or a trophy - at the end. If I can have a bit of fun, compete still, play like I think I can and serve like I did today, it’s going to be pretty tough to beat me.”

[youtube][youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwZz3LYN ... r_embedded[/youtube][/youtube]

Elsewhere, Henri Leconte produced a fabulous display to defeat Pat Cash 6-3, 6-2. Leconte faces Wilander on Friday, with McEnroe up against Guy Forget.

In the ATP Champions Tour tournament, Thomas Enqvist surprised the 2010 champion Goran Ivanisevic. Enqvist won 7-6(6), 6-4. On Friday, former World No.1 and current South African Airways Rankings leader Carlos Moya will make his debut at the tournament. He will take on his closest challenger in the rankings, Mark Philippoussis.

Watson/Henman Team Up For Ladies Night Victory

Tim Henman carried the tennis hopes of a nation for more than a decade, and on Thursday night he joined forces with a young British player who is beginning to make waves of her own in the sport.

To mark Ladies Night at the Statoil Masters Tennis, Henman and British No.1 Heather Watson took on Mark Philippoussis and Anne Keothavong in a mixed doubles match. Henman and Watson triumphed 6-3, 6-4.

Tomorrow, Statoil Sponsored Watson will pass on her expertise to some of Britain’s young promising tennis players as part of Statoil’s ‘Heroes of Tomorrow’ initiative, which supports young people in sport, culture and education.

Tickets to the Statoil Masters Tennis in the Royal Albert Hall are now available, with prices from £17.50 per person.

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http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... Recap.aspx

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Turniej serii Atp Champios tour ma odbyć się w tym roku we wrześniu we wrocławskiej hali Orbita.

W tym roku coś nie wypaliło, a szkoda, bo chętnie bym się wybrał.

[Sempere]

McEnroe vs Wilander In Legends Final; Moya Relishes Debut


Sweden's Mats Wilander advances to
his first final at the Royal Albert Hall.

John McEnroe will meet Mats Wilander in the final of the Statoil Masters Tennis Legends tournament after they both emerged through the group stages with 100 per cent records.

For Wilander, it will be a first final at the Royal Albert Hall, and he earned it with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Henri Leconte. McEnroe dismissed another Frenchman Guy Forget, who was a late replacement for the injured Ivan Lendl. The American triumphed 6-2, 6-4, finishing the match with a stunning overhead smash from near the backboards.

“It’s always fun to play against John McEnroe,” said Wilander. “We actually played 15 times on the regular tour and he is up by one! We’ve played a lot on the ATP Champions Tour though and he has always had my number - I’ve only beaten him once in maybe 15 tries! But two sets on a slower court like this will be fun. I know he’s going to be fired up - he calls this the ‘Wimbledon of the Champions Tour’, which I have to agree with him, so that’s going to be a treat.”

McEnroe is relishing the prospect of having Wilander as his in the final opponent.

“It’s great to see Mats back playing tennis the way he can. He’s worked really hard, and he’s someone I have to be really careful against. He never beats himself so I’ll have to keep my concentration. If I do, I think I’ll be ok.”

Elsewhere, Carlos Moya made his first ever appearance at the Statoil Masters Tennis and although he went down in three sets to Mark Philippoussis, the Spaniard could not believe his luck at being able to play tennis inside the Royal Albert Hall.

“It’s such a great venue,” said Moya. “You feel the history here. I was told how beautiful it was but you have to see it to feel it. The feeling that you get playing on this court is different to anything else I have ever had. It’s probably the most beautiful court that I’ve ever played on.”

Tickets to the Statoil Masters Tennis in the Royal Albert Hall are now available, with prices from £17.50 per person.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... Recap.aspx

[jaccol55]

McEnroe Defends Legends Title; Life Begins At 40 For Santoro


John McEnroe defeated Mats Wilander
in the Statoil Masters Tennis Legends
final.

John McEnroe successfully defended his Statoil Masters Tennis Legends title with an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over old rival Mats Wilander in the final.

Birthday boy Fabrice Santoro, who turned 40 today, joined McEnroe in the winners' circle with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Tim Henman in the ATP Champions Tour event.

McEnroe had been in imperious form throughout the tournament at London’s Royal Albert Hall this week. He held a 7-6 lead in his head-to-head with Wilander from their days on the ATP World Tour, but since then the pair have shared many battles on the ATP Champions Tour.

“I have six titles here now and this one is as sweet as any of them,” said McEnroe after lifting the trophy. “Everyone sounds so surprised when they tell me how well I’m playing! I’m in good shape and I love being out here and winning. This place is like our Wimbledon.”

The tension was palpable at the start of the match inside the Royal Albert Hall. McEnroe soon calmed his nerves with a break of the Wilander serve, and the capacity crowd watch in awe as the 53-year-old served and volleyed his way to a 6-1 first set in under 25 minutes.

Former World Number One Wilander rallied at the start of the second set, but the accuracy of McEnroe’s net play was too much, and the Swede was unable to make inroads on serve. McEnroe fittingly sealed victory, his sixth in total at the Statoil Masters Tennis, with a knifed backhand volley winner, immediately throwing his hands aloft in celebration.

“Mats is such a great player. You give him an inch and he’ll take a mile so I just knew I had to keep the pressure on and keep focussed,” McEnroe said.

The victory is McEnroe’s second of 2012 on the ATP Champions Tour. The seven-time Grand Slam winner clinched the Stockholm Open title earlier in the year.

In the ATP Champions Tour final, Santoro defeated defending Champion Tim Henman 7-5, 6-3 to become the 2012 Statoil Masters Tennis Champion in the younger ATP Champions Tour event.

Known as 'The Little Magician' due to his crowd-pleasing trickery and innovative playing style, Santoro befuddled Henman with his variety of play throughout the final, which was played before a capacity crowd inside London's historic Royal Albert Hall.

"I am delighted just to play in this fantastic arena, so to win is unbelievable," said Santoro. "It is my birthday today and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate, especially with having my family here watching me."

It is a second Champions Tour title for Santoro who clinched the Grand Champions Brazil trophy in Sao Paulo in May of this year.

The ATP Champions Tour now moves on to another South American event, with the Grand Champions Rio tournament starting on December 17.

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Tournament News
Ivanisevic Drawn To Face Rafter At Statoil Masters Tennis
London, U.K.


Last year's finalists, Fabrice Santoro and
Tim Henman, will both feature.

Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Rafter will bring back memories of their classic 2001 Wimbledon final after being drawn together in the round-robin stages of the Statoil Masters Tennis, an IMG event, at the Royal Albert Hall, 4th-8th December.

In an official launch party at the Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah, the full order of play for the week was revealed, with John McEnroe scheduled to face two-time French Open champion Sergi Bruguera on Thursday evening, and then former World No.1 Mats Wilander on Friday night.

McEnroe leads the Legends tournament, with Stefan Edberg, Henri Leconte and Jeremy Bates also taking part. In the ATP Champions Tour event, Rafter and Ivanisevic have been drawn with Greg Rusedski, while Tim Henman, Mark Philippoussis and Fabrice Santoro feature in the other group.

Henman, Rusedski, Philippoussis and the ever-popular Mansour Bahrami will star in a Grand Opening Night with 20 per cent of hospitality sales going to Best Beginnings, the child health charity.

The singles players at the Statoil Masters Tennis have won 25 Grand Slam singles titles between them, four of them have reached No.1 in the world, and eight of them have been on Davis Cup winning teams.

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Tournament News
Ivanisevic, Henman Win Statoil Masters Tennis Openers
London, U.K.


Goran Ivanisevic defeated Greg
Rusedski in straight sets.

Goran Ivanisevic got the first of what he hoped would be two victories on Wednesday, as he defeated Greg Rusedski 7-6(2), 7-6(6) at the Statoil Masters Tennis, held at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Half an hour later, the 2001 Wimbledon champion was on the way to the Hawthorns, hoping to see his favourite football team, West Bromwich Albion, pull off a famous victory over Manchester City. However, on Ivanisevic’s first time at the Hawthorns, the ‘Baggies’ went down to Manchester City 3-2.

Goran will return to London on Wednesday night, before entertaining the crowds at the Royal Albert Hall once again on Thursday when he partners Sergi Bruguera against Mark Philippoussis and Fabrice Santoro in the afternoon session.

Wednesday’s evening singles match came to an abrupt end after Mark Philippoussis was forced to retire with a back injury. The Australian trailed Tim Henman 4-5, and injured his back in his service motion to start the 10th game.

Henman entertained the crowd at the Royal Albert Hall as he knocked up with the ball girls, a member of Il Divo who was in attendance and a member of the audience. But after several minutes of treatment, it was deemed Philippoussis was not fit to continue.

"It was really unfortunate," said Henman. "It's a great new surface this year and I think it really benefits the players. You feel like you can construct rallies out there. I think we played some good tennis at times. To end like that is really unfortunate for Mark, hopefully he can recover quickly."

Philippoussis said, "Obviously it’s not the way you want to finish on the court, especially for such a beautiful cause. It's a great event so it's incredibly disappointing. I was having a great time out there, it's a great court, so I hope I can rest it for a couple of days, and hopefully see if I can get out there on Friday."

In the Legends Tournament, former World No. 5 Henri Leconte defeated Jeremy Bates 7-6(2), 7-5 in Group B.

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STATOIL MASTERS TENNIS
McEnroe Beats Ferreira; Rafter Sets Ivanisevic Decider
London, U.K.


Pat Rafter will face Goran Ivanisevic
to see who reaches the final.

It wasn’t without its drama – would it be a John McEnroe match otherwise? – but the American opened his Statoil Masters Tennis campaign with a 7-6(9), 6-2 victory over former World No. 6 Wayne Ferreira on Thursday evening.

"I think it's just a great place to play, it's unbelievable history here," said McEnroe, who is next due to face Sergi Bruguera on Friday night. "It just feels like you can't pass this opportunity up. It's so much fun to be able to come back and play. It's a historic place. It worked out pretty well tonight, hopefully I can pick it up.

"They all seem to be younger than me, but hopefully this court and the balls favour me. Sergi [Bruguera] likes it slower. I'll try to rush in and hopefully I can get this crowd behind me. They remember the old Jonny Mac. I played well here last year and I think this is my 15th year here."

McEnroe kissed the net after a lucky net cord gave him a 4-2 lead, but Ferreira came back to force a tie-break, hitting arguably the shot of the match in the process when he returned a McEnroe smash with a smash winner of his own from the baseline. “Oh, that felt good!” exclaimed the South African.

McEnroe squandered a 5-1 lead in a pulsating tie-break, but eventually prevailed 11-9. Buoyed by the lead, the American, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, put his foot down in the second set and claimed victory with two breaks in 87 minutes.

"I was up 5-0 and thought it was over," said McEnroe. "I got a little casual, stepped back. Next thing I know, I'm down set point. Then I got really frustrated with myself because I felt like I'd let Wayne back into the set. I got a little bit lucky, got back into it, and finally got a couple of balls that I made the most of. But it could have gone either way. We were both battling and it took the wind out of his sails when I won that set."

Also in the Legends tournament, former World No. 1 Mats Wilander defeated Henri Leconte 6-3, 6-4.

Pat Rafter meant business in a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Greg Rusedski at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The meeting came 16 years after they contested the 1997 US Open final, which Rafter won in four sets.

"I like to start off hard and if the other guy's playing well, which he was in the beginning, then it becomes a tight match,” said the Australian Davis Cup captain. “He could have broken my serve early on and that would have changed the complexion of the match.

“I got off to a great start in the second set and you've got to work out if you're going to take your foot off the pedal. I did take it off a fraction, but I was still playing really well. It's a very good surface. You can play, have rallies."

Rafter will now face Goran Ivanisevic in a repeat of the 2001 Wimbledon final on Saturday night, with the winner to go through to Sunday’s final.

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STATOIL MASTERS TENNIS
Santoro Edges Henman In 2012 Final Repeat
London, U.K.


Fabrice Santoro is the defending
champion at the Royal Albert Hall.

Defending champion Fabrice Santoro edged Tim Henman 6-4, 3-6, 10-3 on Friday in a re-match of the 2012 Statoil Masters Tennis final at the Royal Albert Hall.

Should Santoro defeat Mark Philippoussis on Saturday, he will advance to the final once again, where he will face either Goran Ivanisevic or Pat Rafter.

"It was fun to play Tim once again here in the [Royal] Albert Hall,” said Santoro. “He's a crowd favourite and I think we played a good match. It's always a pleasure to see your old competitors in a different atmosphere. Even though we're 40 years old, we're still keeping well and able to play some good tennis and hit some good shots."

Henman added, "The thing that Fabrice has always done well is he's moved so well. He got off to a good start, broke my serve in the first game. I was always playing catch up in the first set. I started to find my range in the second set and got the break. I couldn't quite pull it off in the tie-break. But it was great fun, Friday afternoon, packed house. You can't ask for more than that really.

"He's got an unbelievable repertoire of shots. A lot of them are unorthodox, but so effective and you never quite know what to expect.”

Henman is due back on court in the evening session, when he partners Jamie Murray against Thomas Enqvist and Goran Ivanisevic in the exhibition doubles. "[Murray] was the man who put me into retirement! My back never recovered after carrying him to the Davis Cup win (in 2007),” joked Henman.

In the Legends tournament, Jeremy Bates was forced to retire injured against Mats Wilander when trailing 5-3. The victory for Wilander is his second of the week and puts him into Sunday's final.

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