The names are in and the field is now set.
Tournament organisers of the Chengdu Open has announced the final three players to join John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Michael Chang, Mats Wilander and Marcelo Rios.
Tournament Director Nick Freyer said Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, French Open champion Sergi Bruguera and Australian Open finalist Thomas Enqvist will complete the eight-man field.Incredible line-up, huh?
Never before have eight greats of the game played a Champions Tour event in China but from November 5 to 8, 2009, the Sichuan International Tennis Center is going to be abuzz with excitement and entertainment.“Between them they had won a total of 26 Grand Slam crowns, now with Goran, Sergi and Thomas part of the group that amazing tally has increased to a staggering 29 Grand Slam titles," Nick Freyer said.
“It is indeed an incredibly unique situation for any host city to be in and Chengdu and its sporting fans is privileged to be able to watch tennis from some of the most iconic players ever. The four days at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre will be something to remember.”
Every one of the eight players reached a career high ranking of at least four in the world while four of the eight players reached the absolute summit: world no. 1: Borg, McEnroe, Rios and Wilander.
Personally, Ivanisevic is one of the popular player which I remembered most.
He was one of the most unpredictable stars on the court because no one ever knew what they were going to get.
Ivanisevic even suggested that he had a split personality (appropriate enough since he came from the city of Split) and did not know himself if the “good Goran or the bad Goran is coming on the court”. That was part of his charm.“I am looking forward to be in China again; I was in the final one time in Shanghai when Michael Chang beat me,” Ivanisevic said.
“It was a very good experience with the tennis fans in China and I am looking forward for the chance to play Michael again in China."
“This is an incredible draw … to have John and Bjorn and the others coming to Chengdu. It will be a fantastic experience for everyone who comes and watches. It will be a lot of fun.”
Bruguera meanwhile was considered the Rafael Nadal of his time. He was almost unbeatable on the red clay courts.“This is my first time to play an official tournament in China because when I was playing there were no tournaments here so I am very excited to come to Chengdu,” the Spaniard said.
“To play alongside the guys that are coming is very exciting for me. I have been playing on the Champions Tour for only a short time so to see it expanding so quickly with new cities like Chengdu being part of it is very good.”
Enqvist was another tough opponent for anyone and was so typically Swedish with his persona and attitude during a match. He was always so cool and calm and it never seemed as though anything bothered him.“I’ve loved being back playing tennis and seeing all my friends again but I will still be like the rookie at the Chengdu Open because I am just starting my new career on the Champions Tour,” Enqvist said.
“This is a new experience for me and to be playing alongside Bjorn and Mats my fellow Swedes is an honour for me and one that I am looking forward to. I didn’t think I would ever be playing a tournament with Bjorn Borg.”
The full order of play for the four days was announced by Freyer who commented that “every match is like being at a Grand Slam final”.THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER:Start at 4:00 pm Group B : Rios vs BrugueraStart not before 5:30 pm Group A : Borg vs IvanisevicStart not before 7:30 pm Group B : Chang vs EnqvistStart not before 9:00 pm Group A : McEnroe vs WilanderFRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER:Start at 4:00 pm Group A : Borg vs WilanderStart not before 5:30 pm Group B : Rios vs EnqvistStart not before 7:30 pm Group A : McEnroe vs IvanisevicStart not before 9:00 pm Group B : Chang vs BrugueraSATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER:Start at 4:00 pm Group A : Ivanisevic vs WilanderStart not before 5:30 pm Group B : Bruguera vs EnqvistStart not before 7:30 pm Group A : McEnroe vs BorgStart not before 9:00 pm Group B : Chang vs RiosSUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER:Start at 2:30 pm Group A 2nd vs Group B 2ndStart not before 4:00 pm Group A 1st vs Group B 1stTickets will be available soon at www.ChengduChampions.com.
Michael Chang will make his television debut in a drama series called Prince of Tennis 2.
Guess who he'll be playing in this series?
Wrong! Michael is not going to play himself.
Instead he'll be playing a coach who'll lead his team to victory in this drama adaptation from a popular manga of the same name.
Together with his wife Amber Liu, they have been teaching the actors some basic moves including forehand, backhand, serve, etc. on the set.
Michael Chang with Kimi Qiao Renliang.
According to Michael, the reason why he's involved in this TV drama series is to better promote tennis which has become an increasingly popular sport in China.
In 2007 Shanghai-based Dragon TV bought the rights to turn Prince of Tennis into a TV series, with much support and enthusiasm from its writer, Takeshi Konomi who hoped this would help promote his manga in the Chinese market.
Konomi personally approved of the choice of Qin Junjie as the lead, Ryoma, or Long Ma in this adaption.
Qin Junjie will reprise his role as Long Ma.
New lead actress Wang Ziwen.
The actors of Fuji and Oishi.
The second season will pick up where the last season left off, as the team heads towards the national championships.
This season features a new lead actress and multiple guest stars. Purported additions to the cast include Wu Jianfei, Kimi Qiao Renliang and Bobo.
Mai Haisheng, Yu Siyuan of B.I.Z, Gao Xiaochen and Jacky Xue Zhiqian are confirmed and will be players on an opponent team.
Coming back to Michael, he'll be participating in the star-studded Chengdu Open in November, Asia's only event on the 12-leg ATP Champions Tour circuit.
(Via sports.sina.com.cn, cfensi, asianfanatics.net)
From November 5 to 8, 2009, eight tennis legends will assemble at the Sichuan International Tennis Center for the Chengdu Open, Asia's only event on the 12-leg ATP Champions Tour circuit. “Chengdu is part of an elite group of cities to host an ATP Champions Tour event and I am thrilled to say that the first five players we are announcing today are John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Michael Chang, Mats Wilander and Marcelo Rios,” Tournament Director Nick Freyer said.
The other three players will be announced soon. The eight players will be divided into two groups for round-robin play, the top two players from the groups will meet in the final while the runners-up from each group will play-off for third and fourth place. According to McEnroe, "I am extremely excited to be making my first trip to China in a very long time; this is a country that is fast becoming a major player in world tennis."
"I know that Chengdu and Sichuan Province is already famous as the home to the giant panda."
"It is a great honor for the city to host an ATP Champions Tour event. I understand the field of players is very strong and I am of course happy that my good friend Bjorn Borg will be returning to China. We always have such great matches; which are part of tennis history."
Bjorn Borg meanwhile is returning to China more than 30 years after he first played here. "I am delighted to be returning to China, this time to the vibrant city of Chengdu, home of the famous giant panda and I really look forward to playing in the Chengdu Open," Borg said.
"It will be all the more special as my good friend John McEnroe will be joining us together with so many other Grand Slam champions."
"I look forward to playing well but also to enjoying the city and the company of the other Champions. Thank you for your vision in making this tournament possible and see you in November."
Of all the players, I believe Michael Chang will get the most attention here when they play in November. "With the boom in tennis in China, I am happy that Chengdu has taken the bold step to host this tournament which will allow me to return to China to play official ATP tennis once more," the Taiwanese said.
"China has always held a special place in my heart."
"Since I retired from the ATP Tour, China has won medals in tennis at the Olympic Games, won titles at Wimbledon and the Australian Open and now hosts major ATP and WTA events in Beijing and Shanghai, so by hosting one of the 12 ATP Champions Tour tournaments, China now plays host to the full suite of professional tennis events."
"Although the field of players will be exceptionally strong, I will be ready to play my best and really look forward to a successful, enjoyable and high profile tournament in Chengdu."
In addition to the tennis action, the Chengdu Open will also stage clinics with many of the tournament stars to develop grassroots tennis. The tournament is being co-organized by Chengdu Sports Bureau, Chengdu Sports Industry Co. Ltd and CCTV IMG Sports Management Company.
The tickets are not available for sale yet. But I'll keep you guys informed.
Thanks to Nick of IMG for the press release.
(Via chengduchampions.com)
Yay! Finally former French Open winner and Hall of Famer Michael Chang married Amber Liu last Saturday, Oct. 18 at Lake Hills Community Church in Laguna Hills, Calif.
The reception and dinner took place at the St. Regis Hotel in Dana Point, California.
Michael Chang poses with his fiancee, Amber Liu, after he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame back in July 2008.
I wonder why there isn't much coverage on his wedding. I hope to see more wedding photos surface in the tennis forums soon.
Updates
Click here for their lovely wedding photos!
(Via tennisreporters.net)
With the Beijing Olympics less than a month away, Michael Chang finds it appropriate to receive his sport’s highest honor. On Saturday, the Chinese-American athlete was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Michael Chang poses with his fiancee, Amber Liu, after he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
He won the 1989 French Open at age 17—the youngest man to win a major—as the Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing were escalating into bloodshed. “For me, at the French Open, if I wasn’t playing my match I was glued to CNN watching the events unfold,” Chang said during a news conference before his induction. “The crackdown actually happened that Sunday of the French Open.”
“I think it’s a very special year for Beijing. I’m really excited for what’s going to happen for China,” Chang said.
Chang was an ambassador who helped China get the bid to hold the Olympics.
(Images by AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Personally, Ivanisevic is one of the popular player which I remembered most.
