Post by Helene on Jan 6, 2011 20:20:22 GMT -8
World Tennis Challenge Draw announced with thrilling match ups each night
Friday 7 January 2011
The World Tennis Challenge 2011 draw was announced by WTC Co-Tournament Director Darren Cahill at Memorial Drive today.
The highly anticipated match between legend rivals John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl will feature on the final evening, Thursday 13 January 2011.
WTC Co-Tournament Darren Cahill, in Adelaide for the World Tennis Challenge, indicated that the Thursday match-up between McEnroe and Lendl may decide the championships.
“McEnroe and Lendl have a long history and they are one of the great rivalries in the history of tennis. This rivalry may decide who takes out the World Tennis Challenge title in 2011.”
The full draw will see the same format as WTC2010 which sees all current players facing off against one another followed by all legends facing off. Following the singles matches, the current and legend players from each team partner for doubles match.
Opening night, Tuesday 11 January will see Australia / Pacific face off against the Americas and will feature a re-match between McEnroe and Cash last year which Cash took the honors. Can he go two for two against the mighty Mac?
Second night, Wednesday 12 January will feature the International team against the Australia / Pacific team which will feature tour statesman and Ivan Ljubicic (Ranked 17) against rising Japanese star Kei Nishikori who is the talk of the tennis world at present with Brad Gilbert recently appointed his coach. Pat Cash will face off against Lendl in a rematch of the 1987 Wimbledon Final – will Lendl beat him this time?
The final night, Thursday 13 January will feature a key match between the international team and the American team. The McEnroe v Lendl match could prove critical in who wins WTC 2011.
Perennial crowd favorite Mansour Bahrami will be the wildcard each night and can be substituted for any player.
The Americas took out the 2009 event whilst Australia Pacific were victors in 2010.
What is World Tennis Challenge?
World Tennis Challenge is an international event featuring four regionally based teams with one current player and one legend representing each region. Each evening, both the legends and current stars play each other in singles matches then team up for doubles. In an innovative move, two courts operate simultaneously providing non-stop action and the opportunity for audiences to see each player take to the court every day.
WORLD TENNIS CHALLENGE OFFICIAL DRAW
TUESDAY NIGHT – 11TH JANUARY
1st match
Ljubicic (International) v Llodra (Europe)
Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v Blake (Americas)
2nd match
Cash (Australia / Pacific) v McEnroe (Americas)
Lendl (International) v Leconte (International)
3rd match
Lendl & Ljubicic (International) v Leconte & Llodra (International)
Cash & Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v McEnroe & Blake (Americas)
Ljubicic and Llodra have faced off three times with the result being 2 to 1 (Ljubicic). They are the elder statesman of the men’s tour with both collectively amassed over $14 million in prize money.
Highlights of the night will include a rematch of one of Nishikori’s career highlights defeating Blake in the final at Delray Beach – 2008. Nishikori was the youngest player to finish in the top 100 (2008) and was the youngest player to reach the 4th round of the US open since Sampras. In 2010 he came back from injury and has rocketed back up the charts from no ranking in April to number 96 in the world.
Leconte was one of the players to ensure Lendl never won Wimbledon – he knocked him out in the 4th round in 1985 and these two legends of the game will face off on night one.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT – 12th JANUARY
1st match
Blake (Americas) v Llodra (Europe)
Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v Ljubicic (International)
2nd match
Cash (Australia) v Lendl (International)
McEnroe (Americas) v Leconte (Europe)
3rd match
McEnroe & Blake (Americas) v Leconte & Llodra (Europe)
Cash & Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v Lendl & Ljubicic (International)
Will see some rivalry between Cash and Lendl – their history includes; Lendl d Cash – in five sets at US Open semi final – 1984. Cash got his own back in 1987 at the Wimbledon final defeating Lendl in straight sets - who can forget the scenes of Cash leaping onto the stands!
Ljubicic – currently ranked #17 will face off against one of the hottest rising stars in Nishikori who has attracted the attention of supercoach Brad Gilbert. Brad Gilbert will be attending the WTC in 2011 and be courtside in Nishikori’s corner.
THURSDAY NIGHT – 13TH JANUARY
1st match
Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v LLodra (Europe)
Blake (Americas) v Ljubicic (International)
2nd match
McEnroe (Americas) v Lendl (International)
Cash Australia / Pacific) v Leconte (Europe)
3rd match
Cash & Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v Leconte & Llodra (Europe)
Mcenroe & Blake (Americas) v Lendl & Ljubicic (International)
The old rivals McEnroe and Lendl will face off after a long absence of observing one another across a tennis court net. One of the all time classic tennis matches was the 1984 French Open Final which saw Lendl come back from two sets to love to defeat Mcenroe in five sets. McEnroe has referred to the match as his most bitter defeat. Lendl was an absolute super star of the sport but could have even been the greatest had he converted all of his 19 grand slam finals.
On court 2, Cash and Leconte will be sure to provide one of the most entertaining matches of the event.
Friday 7 January 2011
The World Tennis Challenge 2011 draw was announced by WTC Co-Tournament Director Darren Cahill at Memorial Drive today.
The highly anticipated match between legend rivals John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl will feature on the final evening, Thursday 13 January 2011.
WTC Co-Tournament Darren Cahill, in Adelaide for the World Tennis Challenge, indicated that the Thursday match-up between McEnroe and Lendl may decide the championships.
“McEnroe and Lendl have a long history and they are one of the great rivalries in the history of tennis. This rivalry may decide who takes out the World Tennis Challenge title in 2011.”
The full draw will see the same format as WTC2010 which sees all current players facing off against one another followed by all legends facing off. Following the singles matches, the current and legend players from each team partner for doubles match.
Opening night, Tuesday 11 January will see Australia / Pacific face off against the Americas and will feature a re-match between McEnroe and Cash last year which Cash took the honors. Can he go two for two against the mighty Mac?
Second night, Wednesday 12 January will feature the International team against the Australia / Pacific team which will feature tour statesman and Ivan Ljubicic (Ranked 17) against rising Japanese star Kei Nishikori who is the talk of the tennis world at present with Brad Gilbert recently appointed his coach. Pat Cash will face off against Lendl in a rematch of the 1987 Wimbledon Final – will Lendl beat him this time?
The final night, Thursday 13 January will feature a key match between the international team and the American team. The McEnroe v Lendl match could prove critical in who wins WTC 2011.
Perennial crowd favorite Mansour Bahrami will be the wildcard each night and can be substituted for any player.
The Americas took out the 2009 event whilst Australia Pacific were victors in 2010.
What is World Tennis Challenge?
World Tennis Challenge is an international event featuring four regionally based teams with one current player and one legend representing each region. Each evening, both the legends and current stars play each other in singles matches then team up for doubles. In an innovative move, two courts operate simultaneously providing non-stop action and the opportunity for audiences to see each player take to the court every day.
WORLD TENNIS CHALLENGE OFFICIAL DRAW
TUESDAY NIGHT – 11TH JANUARY
1st match
Ljubicic (International) v Llodra (Europe)
Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v Blake (Americas)
2nd match
Cash (Australia / Pacific) v McEnroe (Americas)
Lendl (International) v Leconte (International)
3rd match
Lendl & Ljubicic (International) v Leconte & Llodra (International)
Cash & Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v McEnroe & Blake (Americas)
Ljubicic and Llodra have faced off three times with the result being 2 to 1 (Ljubicic). They are the elder statesman of the men’s tour with both collectively amassed over $14 million in prize money.
Highlights of the night will include a rematch of one of Nishikori’s career highlights defeating Blake in the final at Delray Beach – 2008. Nishikori was the youngest player to finish in the top 100 (2008) and was the youngest player to reach the 4th round of the US open since Sampras. In 2010 he came back from injury and has rocketed back up the charts from no ranking in April to number 96 in the world.
Leconte was one of the players to ensure Lendl never won Wimbledon – he knocked him out in the 4th round in 1985 and these two legends of the game will face off on night one.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT – 12th JANUARY
1st match
Blake (Americas) v Llodra (Europe)
Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v Ljubicic (International)
2nd match
Cash (Australia) v Lendl (International)
McEnroe (Americas) v Leconte (Europe)
3rd match
McEnroe & Blake (Americas) v Leconte & Llodra (Europe)
Cash & Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v Lendl & Ljubicic (International)
Will see some rivalry between Cash and Lendl – their history includes; Lendl d Cash – in five sets at US Open semi final – 1984. Cash got his own back in 1987 at the Wimbledon final defeating Lendl in straight sets - who can forget the scenes of Cash leaping onto the stands!
Ljubicic – currently ranked #17 will face off against one of the hottest rising stars in Nishikori who has attracted the attention of supercoach Brad Gilbert. Brad Gilbert will be attending the WTC in 2011 and be courtside in Nishikori’s corner.
THURSDAY NIGHT – 13TH JANUARY
1st match
Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v LLodra (Europe)
Blake (Americas) v Ljubicic (International)
2nd match
McEnroe (Americas) v Lendl (International)
Cash Australia / Pacific) v Leconte (Europe)
3rd match
Cash & Nishikori (Australia / Pacific) v Leconte & Llodra (Europe)
Mcenroe & Blake (Americas) v Lendl & Ljubicic (International)
The old rivals McEnroe and Lendl will face off after a long absence of observing one another across a tennis court net. One of the all time classic tennis matches was the 1984 French Open Final which saw Lendl come back from two sets to love to defeat Mcenroe in five sets. McEnroe has referred to the match as his most bitter defeat. Lendl was an absolute super star of the sport but could have even been the greatest had he converted all of his 19 grand slam finals.
On court 2, Cash and Leconte will be sure to provide one of the most entertaining matches of the event.