Wilander, Ferreira Join Courier, Ivanisevic, Philippoussis In Grand Cayman

InsideOut Sports & Entertainment | March 5, 2009



Wilander, Ferreira Join Courier, Ivanisevic, Philippoussis In Grand Cayman

NEW YORK, March 5, 2009 - InsideOut Sports & Entertainment today announced that Mats Wilander, Wayne Ferreira, Mikael Pernfors, Jimmy Arias and Karel Novacek will join Jim Courier, Goran Ivanisevic and Mark Phillippoussis in the eight-player field at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships to be held April 23-26 in Grand Cayman. The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships is the fourth of eight events on the 2009 Outback Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.

“We are looking forward to our second year of Outback Champions Series tennis at The Residences at The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman with a terrific field of tennis legends,” said Jon Venison, co-founding partner of InsideOut Sports & Entertainment and the Outback Champions Series. “This event is the only Outback Champions Series event played on a clay court and will provide for some exciting tennis played in one of the most beautiful and luxurious resorts in the world.”

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships will feature a field of eight champion players competing in a single knock-out format event, vying for $150,000 in prize money and ranking points that determine the year-end No. 1 on the Outback Champions Series. Ticket, travel and tournament information can be found by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com. In 2008, Courier won the inaugural event last year defeating Ferreira 7-6 (3), 7-6 (1) in the championship match.

Wilander won seven major singles titles in his career, including three French and three Australian Open titles. In 1988, he won three major singles titles, capped by defeating Ivan Lendl in the final of the U.S. Open that earned him the No. 1 world ranking. Known as one of the best clay-court players of all-time, Wilander won 33 career singles titles and helped Sweden to Davis Cup titles in 1984, 1985 and 1987.

Ferreira, a silver medalist in doubles at the 1992 Olympic Games, has been one of the most successful players on the Outback Champions Series since the tennis circuit began in 2005. The South African has won three tournament titles and finished as runner-up two other times, including the Grand Cayman event in 2008. In 2006, he won the title in Houston, defeating Magnus Larsson in the final, while in 2007, he won titles in Naples, Fla., (defeating Krickstein in the final) and Dallas (defeating Jim Courier in the final.)

Pernfors is best known for his run to the singles final at the French Open in 1986, where he defeated Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker before losing to Ivan Lendl in the final. He won three ATP singles titles during his career, including the Canadian Open in 1993 where he came from 2-5 down in the third set to defeat Todd Martin in the final. Pernfors helped Sweden to the Davis Cup final in 1986 and won back-to-back NCAA singles titles for the University of Georgia in 1984 and 1985.

Arias turned pro at age 16 and reached a career-high ranking of No. 5 in April 1984. He enjoyed his best year in 1983 with four singles titles, including the U.S. Clay Court Championships and the Italian Open. That same year, at age 19, he reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open. Arias won five career titles, all in singles, in his career and represented the United States in Davis Cup play in 1984, 1986 and 1987. Last year in Grand Cayman, Arias registered his first career win over John McEnroe en route to finishing third at the event.

Novacek achieved a career high ranking of No. 8 in the world and posted the most significant results of his career at the U.S. Open, where he reached the singles semifinals in 1994, losing to Michael Stich, and in doubles with Martin Damm, he reached the doubles final in 1993, losing to Ken Flach and Robert Seguso. He won 13 career ATP singles titles.

The schedule of play for the event will be as follows;

Thursday, April 23
Starting at 3 pm
Wayne Ferreira vs Mikael Pernfors
Mats Wilander vs. Mark Philippoussis

Friday, April 24
Starting at 6 pm
Goran Ivanisevic vs. Karel Novacek
Jim Courier vs. Jimmy Arias

Saturday, April 25
Starting 1 pm
Doubles featuring all four losing quarterfinalists Goran Ivanisevic/Karel Novacek winner vs. Mats Wilander/Mark Philippoussis winner

Starting at 6 pm
Doubles featuring all four losing quarterfinalist Jim Courier/Jimmy Arias winner vs. Wayne Ferreira/Mikael Pernfors winner

Sunday, April 26
Starting at 1 pm
Third Place Match
Championship Match

About the Outback Champions Series
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years, including 14-time major tournament champion Pete Sampras, four-time U.S. Open champion John McEnroe, two-time French and Australian Open champion Jim Courier and others. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. The year-end No. 1 ranked player on the Series will receive a $100,000 bonus.

About The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, The DeckHouses and Secret Harbour Stretching sea to sea from the acclaimed Seven Mile Beach to the North Sound, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Resort has set a lavish new standard of living on the Caribbean’s most prosperous, cosmopolitan and safe island – Grand Cayman. Comprising The Residences, The DeckHouses and Secret Harbour, all anchored by the hotel itself, living at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Resort is distinguished by an unparalleled lifestyle experience enhanced with the unique Endless Service program, which includes a fleet of luxury automobiles and intrepid 36-foot motor yachts available for use when in residence. Owners also have access to the legendary service and amenities of the $600 million Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Resort. For more information, please visit www.residences-cayman.com, www.thedeckhouses.com or www.findsecretharbour.com.

About InsideOut Sports & Entertainment
InsideOut Sports & Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including one-night “Legendary Night” exhibitions as well as charity events and tennis fantasy camps, including the annual Ultimate Fantasy Camp. Through 2008, InsideOut Sports & Entertainment events have raised over $4 million for charity. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com