Good to see something replacing the Adelaide international, even if it is only an exhibition type of event. I don't know where they got Kafelnikov as being a current player from! -
AMERICAN great Jim Courier is to invest and star in a new and novel Adelaide tennis tournament.
Former world No.1 Courier and fellowed retired stars such as Pat Cash and Mats Wilander are expected to headline the event to be held days before the 2009 Australian Open.
The former players will be joined by current and junior players in a round robin format of teams from Australia, Sweden, the U.S. and Russia.
The tournament is the brainchild of South Australian tennis identities Darren Cahill and Roger Rasheed.
Cahill said today they approached Courier, a four-time grand slam winner and now prominent television commentator, and the American promptly invested in the tournament and said he'd play.
Adelaide's Memorial Drive will change its surface from Rebound Ace to the Open-sanctioned plexi-cushion courts to cater for the event.
The players will compete simultaneously on two courts, separated by corporate areas and surrounded by huge screens.
"We are going to cater for all the people who have never seen tennis before, we want them to absorb it and love it," Rasheed said of the event titled the World Tennis Challenge.
Cahill said current players including Marat Safin, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Joachim Johannson had indicated initial interest in playing.
The inaugural three-night tournament will be held January 15-17, 2009.
AMERICAN great Jim Courier is to invest and star in a new and novel Adelaide tennis tournament.
Former world No.1 Courier and fellowed retired stars such as Pat Cash and Mats Wilander are expected to headline the event to be held days before the 2009 Australian Open.
The former players will be joined by current and junior players in a round robin format of teams from Australia, Sweden, the U.S. and Russia.
The tournament is the brainchild of South Australian tennis identities Darren Cahill and Roger Rasheed.
Cahill said today they approached Courier, a four-time grand slam winner and now prominent television commentator, and the American promptly invested in the tournament and said he'd play.
Adelaide's Memorial Drive will change its surface from Rebound Ace to the Open-sanctioned plexi-cushion courts to cater for the event.
The players will compete simultaneously on two courts, separated by corporate areas and surrounded by huge screens.
"We are going to cater for all the people who have never seen tennis before, we want them to absorb it and love it," Rasheed said of the event titled the World Tennis Challenge.
Cahill said current players including Marat Safin, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Joachim Johannson had indicated initial interest in playing.
The inaugural three-night tournament will be held January 15-17, 2009.
