Safin, Sampras, Philippoussis ready for Chengdu Open 2011 – Tennis News
After a two month break the ‘Old Ones’ return to the ATP Champions Tour for the Chengdu Open in Chengdu, China. A tour for former world number ones and tennis greats of the old days, the ATP Champions Tour event showcases some
of the great names of tennis for the upcoming event.
Making his debut on the Champions Tour in this event is the former world number one and the youngest player here, the Russian heartthrob, Marat Safin. Known for his outbursts and angry racquet smashes on court, Safin will be playing
his first ever event on the Champions Tour and renewing the rivalry with American legend, Pete Sampras.
A shocker to tennis fans all over the world, Safin hung up his racquet in November 2009. In the prime of his life comparatively, Safin surely had another few good years in him. A two time Grand Slam champion, Safin won the US Open
in 2000 defeating local Sampras in the final and the Australian Open in 2005 defeating local Lleyton Hewitt.
Absent from the world of tennis for a good two years, fans all over the world are excited with the return of the Russian legend and are anticipating his match with Sampras. Part of Group A with Sampras, Wayne Ferriera and Younes
El Aynaoui, Safin will be opening his run at Chengdu against Ferriera.
Also returning to the event is Sampras. Winner of fourteen Grand Slam titles, Sampras has played in only one or two events on the Champions Tour so far, making him ineligible to qualify for the ranking list. A finalist here at
Chengdu in 2010, Sampras failed to clinch a title win here last year as he lost to Brit Greg Rusedski. Sampras will also be opening his run here on Thursday, 27th October against El Aynaoui with the hopes of going a step further this time around.
With the field full of rivals, Mark Philippoussis will also be playing at Chengdu this year. A long time rival of Sampras’ throughout their professional careers, Mark adds a certain zing to the playing field. Part of Group B; Philippoussis
looks at Carlos Moya, Paradorn Srichapan and Thomas Enqvist in his round robin matches. Top ranked in the rankings with 1200 points, the Aussie tennis star c*m model will be opening against Moya on Thursday as well.
With a field as decorated as this along with double exhibition matches, the event is expected to be a exciting not to mention full of competition and contest.
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