Safin, Courier, Flipper at Seniors Tennis Rio

Former No. 1 Marat Safin will open up play in his debut Champions Series tennis event Friday against Wayne Ferreira at the Banco Cruzeiro do Sul Rio Champions in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The Banco Cruzeiro do Sul Rio Champions Cup, held March 12-14 at the Maracanazinho Stadium in Rio, is the opening event on the 2010 Champions Series tennis circuit, the U.S.-based international tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.

Also competing in the eight-player, single-knock out event are Jim Courier, Mats Wilander, Mark Philippoussis, Cedric Pioline, Mikael Pernfors and Fernando Meligeni.

Schedule:

Friday 12th March: Starting at 6 pm
Quarterfinal #1 - Fernando Meligeni vs. Mikael Pernfors
Quarterfinal #2 - Mark Philippoussis vs. Cedric Pioline
Quarterfinal #3 - Marat Safin vs. Wayne Ferreira
Quarterfinal #4 - Jim Courier vs. Mats Wilander

Saturday 13th March: Starting at 6 pm
Men's Doubles Match
Semifinal #1 - Winner of Safin/Ferreira vs. Meligini/Pernfors
Semifinal #2 - Winner of Philippoussis/Pioline vs. Courier/Wilander

Sunday 14th March: Starting at 11 am
3rd Place Match
Championship Final