Borg, McEnroe Among 4 No. 1s Signed for Seniors China Event
Posted on April 28, 2009The city of Chengdu in China, home of the giant panda, will play host to a new event on the ATP Champions Tour with John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Michael Chang headlining a world class field on Nov. 5-8, 2009, that will also include Marcelo Rios, Mats Wilander and three other as-yet-unnamed players.
"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," McEnroe said. "I know that Chengdu and Sichuan Province is already famous as the home to the giant panda and 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."
Borg and McEnroe look forward to renewing their rivalry, and facing the youngsters Rios and Chang.
"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," Borg said. "I look forward to playing well but also to enjoying the city and the company of the other champions."
The tournament will be directed by Nick Freyer.
"Between them, these five superstars of sport have amassed a staggering 26 Grand Slam singles crowns and being able to host the Chengdu Open is a major coup for Chengdu," Freyer said. "The event is sure to gain plenty of attention from the public, media and international television."
The first tournament of the 2009 ATP Champions Tour saw an emotional victory for Felix Mantilla in Barcelona. Just two years after recovering from skin cancer, the Spaniard defeated Albert Costa in the final. The next stop on the ATP Champions Tour will be Sao Paulo, Brazil for the Nosas Caixa Grand Champions, May 21-24.
"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," McEnroe said. "I know that Chengdu and Sichuan Province is already famous as the home to the giant panda and 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."
Borg and McEnroe look forward to renewing their rivalry, and facing the youngsters Rios and Chang.
"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," Borg said. "I look forward to playing well but also to enjoying the city and the company of the other champions."
The tournament will be directed by Nick Freyer.
"Between them, these five superstars of sport have amassed a staggering 26 Grand Slam singles crowns and being able to host the Chengdu Open is a major coup for Chengdu," Freyer said. "The event is sure to gain plenty of attention from the public, media and international television."
The first tournament of the 2009 ATP Champions Tour saw an emotional victory for Felix Mantilla in Barcelona. Just two years after recovering from skin cancer, the Spaniard defeated Albert Costa in the final. The next stop on the ATP Champions Tour will be Sao Paulo, Brazil for the Nosas Caixa Grand Champions, May 21-24.