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NEWPORT, RI – The International Tennis Hall of Fame today announced that five of the eight players are set for the 2007 Gibson Guitar Champions Cup that will be held in Newport, Rhode Island August 22-26. Pat Cash and Wayne Ferreira will join Hall of Famers John McEnroe, Jim Courier and Mats Wilander for the five day event played on the Hall of Fame's legendary grass courts.
The Gibson Guitar Champions Cup is one of six tournaments in the Outback Champions Series, a pro tour of former champions age 30 and above. These tennis legends compete in a highly competitive, fan friendly, round-robin format with a champion crowned on the last day of each event. Eligible players competing in the Series have either held a top 5 singles ranking, been a Grand Slam singles finalist, or a singles player on a Championship Davis Cup team during their ATP Tour playing careers. Pat Cash earned a career high world ranking of No. 4 in 1988 and captured the Wimbledon Singles Championship in 1987. He won 19 career titles; seven in singles and 12 in doubles. He reached two consecutive Australian Open singles finals, both grueling five-set championship matches. He was an eight year member of Australia's Davis Cup Team, winning the Cup twice. Wayne Ferreira is currently ranked No. 1 in the Champions Cup Series. Hailing from South Africa, he holds the record for the most consecutive Grand Slam appearances in men's tennis, playing in 56 Slams between 1991 and 2004. A 15-year veteran of the South African Davis Cup Team, Ferreira achieved a career high singles world ranking of No. 6 and captured 26 career titles. John McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999. As one of the most intense competitors ever in the sport of tennis, he captured 17 titles in Grand Slam events including three Wimbledon singles crowns and four US Opens. A former World No. 1 ranked player, McEnroe complied 155 career titles, 77 in singles and 78 in doubles. He was also a mainstay on the U.S. Davis Cup team for 12 years, winning the Cup five times. Jim Courier was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005. A former World No. 1 ranked player, he captured four Grand Slam Singles Championships - two at Roland Garros and two in Australia. In a career spanning 13 years, he captured 29 career titles, 23 in singles and six in doubles. Courier played on two winning Davis Cup teams. In the entire history of the Davis Cup, no other American has ever taken his team into a fifth set of a deciding match and won. Courier did it twice. Mats Wilander was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002 under the flag of Sweden. He captured eight Grand Slam Championship titles, seven in singles and one in doubles. In 1988 he was the most dominate player on the men's pro tour, winning the Australian, French and US Open singles titles and attaining the World No. 1 ranking. He captured 40 career titles, 33 in singles and seven in doubles. He played Davis Cup for 11 years, lifting Sweden to four successive Cup wins. Tickets for the Gibson Guitar Champions Cup are on sale now at www.tennisfame.com or by calling (866) 914-FAME. Tickets for Wednesday and Thursday are priced at $15, $25 and $30; Friday, $15, $25 and $35 and for Saturday and Sunday, $30, $40 and $50. Three matches will be played daily Wednesday through Saturday on Bill Talbert Center Court with two matches played on Sunday, consisting of the Championship Final and third place match. For more information visit www.tennisfame.com or call (866) 914-FAME. |
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