2012 ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR

[kandi]

Ivanisevic Thrashes Edberg In 'Best Ever Match'

Goran Ivanisevic took out the frustration that remained from his most recent loss to Stefan Edberg, and his narrow defeat to Magnus Larsson yesterday, to produce, in his words, the best match he has ever played on the ATP Champions Tour. On day two of the Kings of Tennis by Index International in Stockholm, Ivanisevic defeated Edberg 6-4, 6-2 with some monstrous serves and vicious ground-strokes.

Elsewhere, John McEnroe and Thomas Muster set up a winner-takes-all clash in Group B on Thursday after remaining unbeaten in the round-robin stages. McEnroe swept aside Mikael Pernfors on Wednesday, while Muster saved a match point against Pat Cash to prevail in a thriller, 3-6, 7-6(3), 13-11 (Champions' Tie-Break).

For Ivanisevic, an emphatic victory over Edberg in Sweden was just about as pleasurable an experience as he had had since joining the circuit in 2004. He lost to Edberg 12-10 in the third from a winning position in Zurich two years ago, and couldn't wait to get revenge.

"I played unbelievably tonight," said Ivanisevic. "I always enjoy playing Stefan but I really wanted to beat him tonight and I’m glad that I did. I just had so much fun because it’s just one of those nights where everything went right. Actually Stefan started unbelievably well, he had two break points and I was a bit worried but after that I just played so well. My serve, return, movement, it was all good! Yesterday I also played well (against Larsson), I had match point on my serve but tonight was probably the best match I ever played on the Champions Tour. “When I’m on the court I forget that I’m 40 years old now, I have to keep reminding myself! I still think I’m 20 in my head."

It means that Group A is very much still alive, with Larsson in pole position on two wins and one loss. He faces Edberg on Thursday, with Ivanisevic up against Wayne Ferreira. Larsson overcame Ferreira in straight sets on Wednesday.

The match of the day on Thursday though will be the McEnroe vs. Muster clash. Both men are unbeaten this week, both have been training intensely ahead of their first tournament of 2012, and given that they never played each other on the ATP World Tour it will be fascinating to see them face off.

[kandi]

STANDINGS - after 2 days play

GROUP A...........Matches won/lost (sets)
Magnus Larsson ...2-0 (4-1)
Goran Ivanisevic ...1-1 (3-2)
Stefan Edberg ...1-1 (2-2)
Wayne Ferreira ...0-2 (0-4)

GROUP B.........Matches won/lost (sets)
John McEnroe ...2-0 (4-0)
Thomas Muster ....2-0 (4-1)
Mikael Pernfors ...0-2 (0-4)
Pat Cash .....0-2 (1-4)

[kandi]

Thursday 15th March, 2012

Goran Ivanisevic d. Wayne Ferreira 64 64
Pat Cash d. Mikael Pernfors w/o
John McEnroe d. Thomas Muster 62 62
Magnus Larsson d. Stefan Edberg 36 62 10-8

[kandi]

FINAL STANDINGS

GROUP A...........Matches won/lost (sets)
Magnus Larsson ...3-0 (6-2)
Goran Ivanisevic ...2-1 (5-2)
Stefan Edberg ...1-2 (3-4)
Wayne Ferreira ...0-3 (0-6)

GROUP B.........Matches won/lost (sets)
John McEnroe ...3-0 (6-0)
Thomas Muster ....2-1 (4-3)
Pat Cash .....1-2 (1-4)
Mikael Pernfors ...0-3 (0-4)

[kandi]

Friday 16th March, 2012 - Starting at 6.30pm

The Final - Magnus Larsson vs John McEnroe
Third Place Play-off - Goran Ivanisevic vs Thomas Muster

[kandi]

from twitter:

ChampionsTennis ‏ @ChampionsTennis
Wow! John McEnroe d. Magnus Larsson 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 (Champions' Tie Break) to be crowned the King Of Tennis in Stockholm.

[kandi]

3/4 - Goran Ivanisevic d. Thomas Muster 64, 62


and tat's all from Stockholm, folks - on to Zurich next week!

[kandi]

The BNP Paribas Zurich Open
City: Zurich, Switzerland
Dates: March 20-24, 2012
Venue: Saalsporthalle, Zurich
Director: Erik Keller
Surface: Rebound Ace (Indoor)
Website: www.zurichopen.net

Though not officially the country’s political capital, Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city by both size and population, and is often known as the cultural capital of Switzerland. Situated in the German speaking region of the country only 30km North of the Alps, Zurich is surrounded on all sides by wooded hills. The geographic and historic center of the city is the Lindenhof, a small natural hill on the west bank of the River Limmat, which runs through the heart of the city.

As the commercial centre of Switzerland, Zürich is a leading global financial centre and famously home to the headquarters of banks such as Credit Suisse and UBS. Zürich is also one of the world's largest centers for offshore banking, and home to The Swiss Stock Exchange.

Located in the third district or ‘canton’ of the city known as Wiedikon, the Zurich Saalsporthalle is one of Zurich’s premier sporting and leisure venues, regularly hosting major sporting championships as well as theatre productions and major concerts.

The city of Zurich was also co-host of the Euro 2008 football championships, with several important matches being played in the city’s Letzigrund Stadion, home of FC Zurich, the city’s premier football club.

Announced Players for 2012: Jimmy Connors, Henri Leconte, Tim Henman, Marat Safin, Mark Philippoussis.


An exceptional tennis event

As of March 2010, Zurich has returned on to the map of world tennis – with a worldwide new and unique concept: the "BNP Paribas Zurich Open – where champions meet talents"Two generations of players: former legendary tennis champions as well as the world's best talents play in March in Zurich in their respective tournaments two separate round robin formats (analogue to the ATP Masters) and join in a combined doubles competition. The BNP Paribas Zurich Open 2012 will present from 20 - 24 March 2012 a first class field with the ATP Champions Mark Philippoussis, Tim Henman, Henri Leconte, Marat Safin, Carlos Moya, Stefan Edberg, Pat Cash, Michael Stich and young talents.

The BNP Paribas Zurich Open is an extraordinary happening. Visitors experience superb tennis with former and possibly future Grand-Slam winners as well as a top-class environment and exclusive culinary highlights from top chefs.

[kandi]

Schedule in Zurich

Tuesday, 20th March, 2012 -
Starting at 4.00pm - Mark Philippoussis vs. Henri Leconte
.................................Pat Cash vs. Michael Stich -
Starting at 8.30pm - Tim Henman vs. Stefan Edberg

Wednesday, 21st March, 2012-
Starting at 2.30pm - Marat Safin vs. Michael Stich -
Starting at 5.30pm - Carlos Moya vs. Pat Cash -
Starting at 8.30pm - Tim Henman vs. Mark Philippoussis

Thursday, 22nd March, 2012
Starting at 2.30pm - Tim Henman vs. Henri Leconte -
Starting at 5.30pm - Carlos Moya vs. Marat Safin -
Starting at 8.30pm - Stefan Edberg vs. Mark Philippoussis

Friday, 23rd March, 2012
Starting at 2.30pm - Marat Safin vs. Pat Cash -
Starting at 5.30pm - Stefan Edberg vs. Henri Leconte -
Starting at 8.30pm - Carlos Moya vs. Michael Stich

Saturday, 24th March, 2012 - Starting at 2.00pm
3/4 Place play off
Final

[kandi]

Tuesday, 20th March, 2012 - from Zurich

Mark Philippoussis d. Henri Leconte 6-2, 6-2
Michael Stich d. Pat Cash 3-6, 7-6(5), 11-9
Stefan Edberg d. Tim Henman 7-6(11), 6-1

[kandi]

Safin Wins Rusty Opener as Philippoussis Run Continues

Marat Safin made a winning start to his BNP Paribas Zurich Open campaign on Wednesday, despite having to dust off a few cobwebs in the opening stages of what was, in the end, a routine 7-5, 6-4 victory over Germany’s Michael Stich.

Safin is playing his first ATP Champions Tour event since being elected to the Russian National Parliament, the Duma, in December of last year. The two-time Grand Slam Champion took several games to hit his stride against Stich, but once his famous serve and backhand started firing the result was never in doubt.

Afterwards, 32 year-old Safin explained his slow start to the match. “It was difficult today, you lose the touch very fast,” he said. “The skills, they take a while to come back. But just to be on the court is good, it’s a sad thought that I will only get worse and worse and worse now though! The backhand I will never forget. The rest I’m forgetting way too fast!”.

Wednesday, 21st March, 2012-

Marat Safin d. Michael Stich 7-5, 6-4
Carlos Moya d. Pat Cash 6-4, 6-4
Mark Philippoussis d. Tim Henman 6-3, 7-5

[kandi]

STANDINGS - after 2 days in Zurich

GROUP A.............Matches won/lost (sets)
Carlos Moya .............1-0 (2-0)
Marat Safin ..............1-0 (2-0)
Pat Cash ..................0-1 (0-2)
Michael Stich ............0-1 (0-2)

GROUP B ..........Matches won/lost (sets)
Mark Philippoussis .....2-0 (4-0)
Stefan Edberg .........1-0 (2-0)
Henri Leconte ..........0-1 (0-2)
Tim Henman ............0-2 (0-4)

[kandi]

Zurich, Switzerland

Thursday, 22nd March, 2012 -

Tim Henman d. Henri Leconte 64 61
Carlos Moya d. Marat Safin 64 62
Stefan Edberg d. Mark Philippoussis 64 76(4) -

Edberg qualifies for Finals

[kandi]

Edberg Stuns Philippoussis; Moya Adds To Federer Praise

Stefan Edberg produced the performance of the week on Thursday evening to defeat Mark Philippoussis 6-4, 7-6(4), a result that gives him an unassailable lead at the top of Group B and assures him qualification for Saturday’s BNP Paribas Zurich Open final.

Edberg, who defeated Goran Ivanisevic to lift the Zurich Open title back in 2010, hit a purple patch against the 36-year-old Philippoussis. The Swede was undaunted in the face of a barrage of 220km/h serves from the Philippoussis racquet, and used his own deft touch at the net, and wily groundstrokes to outsmart his opponent.

"This is about as well as I can play,” said Edberg. “In fact I think today was the best I've played in years, I'm really happy. It was just one of those days where everything feels right. I also got the run of the luck today, a lot of lucky balls went my way which always helps."

http://www.atpchampionstour.com/index.html

[kandi]

Friday, 23rd March, 2012 -

Starting at 2.30pm . Marat Safin vs. Pat Cash -
Starting at 5.30pm . Stefan Edberg vs. Henri Leconte -
Starting at 8.30pm . Carlos Moya vs. Michael Stich