Safin, Nalbandian, Youzhny Reap Tennis-X Euro Series Cash

In an attempt to spare the winners from another holiday awards obligation, Tennis-X will be mailing the winner's checks this week from the Tennis-X Euro Series.

The 2004 Tennis-X Euro Series was the historic achievement in men's tennis that links the nine European indoor tournaments after the US Open leading to the year-ending Masters Cup, creating a cohesive, five-week European indoor season.

Players competed for bonus prize money and the honor that goes with being crowned the Euro Series champion.

Marat Safin crushed the competition with 217 Euro Series points, ahead of second place finisher David Nalbandian with 117, and another Russian, Mikhail Youhzny with 109.

The nine events that comprised the Tennis-X Euro Series were the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon (France), the BA-CA Tennis Trophy (Vienna, Austria), the Open de Maselle (Metz, France), the Kremlin Cup (Moscow, Russia), the Masters Series-Madrid (Spain), the Davidoff Swiss Indoors (Basel, Switzerland), the if...Stockholm Open (Sweden), the St. Petersburg Open (Russia), and the Masters Series-Paris (France).

Safin received USD $39.00 ($25.00 + 50% of the fan-contributed Euro Series Prize Fund), with $19.10 ($10.00 + 30% of the Fund) going to Nalbandian, and $11.10 ($5.50 + 20% of the fund) to Youzhny.

"Tell me again why I have to cut these checks, just because CEO Luke Johnson is in Europe?" said Tennis-X Senior Writer Richard Vach. "Is he coming back? There's been a lot of Christmas shopping lately, hold you breath on those checks clearing."

Click here for more on the 2004 Tennis-X Euro Series.

Stay tuned to Tennis-X.com and we'll let you know when and if the checks are cashed!