Cash Replaces Injured Ivanisevic In Grand Cayman
InsideOut Sports & Entertainment | April 20, 2009
Cash Replaces Injured Ivanisevic In Grand Cayman
Fourth Event on the 2009 Outback Champions Series Starts Thursday at The Residences at The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships
NEW YORK, April 20, 2009 - InsideOut Sports & Entertainment today announced that Pat Cash will replace Goran Ivanisevic in the eight-player field at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships that begins this Thursday 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.
Ivanisevic was forced to pull out of the event after not fully recovering from knee surgery earlier this year. Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, will join Jim Courier, Wayne Ferreira, Mikael Pernfors, Mark Philippoussis, Mats Wilander, Jimmy Arias and Karel Novacek in the field of champions.
"I am very disappointed not to be able to play in the Cayman Islands due to the longer than expected recovery time necessary after my knee operation," said Ivanisevic, the 2001 Wimbledon champion. "I was looking forward playing in a first-class event on a dream island. I will be waiting for next year impatiently in order to have a chance to play this event."
"Goran is very disappointed that he is unable to compete in Grand Cayman, but Pat is equally excited to step in and go for another Outback Champions Series title," said Jon Venison, co-founding partner for InsideOut Sports & Entertainment and the Outback Champions Series. "We are thrilled to return to The Residences at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman for another enjoyable week of competitive Outback Champions Series tournament tennis."
Cash, 43, joined the illustrious list of Australian players to win Wimbledon when he defeated Ivan Lendl to win the title in 1987. Cash was a singles finalist at the Australian Open in 1987 and 1988, a semifinalist at the US Open in 1984 and led Australia to victory in the Davis Cup in 1983 and 1986. He achieved a career high singles ranking of No. 4 in 1988. Cash's best showings on the Outback Champions Series came when he beat Courier in the final in Newport in 2008 and in 2006, when he defeated John McEnroe en route to the final in Naples, Fla., where he lost to Courier.
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 defeating Ferreira 7-6 (3), 7-6 (1) in the championship match.
The schedule of play for the event will be as follows;
Thursday, April 23
Starting at 3 pm
Wayne Ferreira vs. Mark Philippoussis
Mats Wilander vs. Jimmy Arias
Friday, April 24
Starting at 6 pm
Pat Cash vs. Karel Novacek
Jim Courier vs. Mikael Pernfors
Saturday, April 25
Starting 1 pm
Doubles featuring all four losing quarterfinalists Pat Cash/Karel Novacek winner vs. Mats Wilander/Jimmy Arias winner
Starting at 6 pm
Doubles featuring all four losing quarterfinalist Jim Courier/Mikael Pernfors winner vs. Wayne Ferreira/Mark Philippoussis winner
Sunday, April 26
Starting at 1 pm
Third Place Match
Championship Match
Pete Sampras won the opening event on the 2009 Outback Champions Series, defeating McEnroe in the final of the Champions Cup Boston in February. McEnroe won the second event of the year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, defeating Courier in the final. Sampras won his second title of the year at the Del Mar Development Champions Cup in Los Cabos, Mexico. Following Grand Cayman, Outback Champions Series events will be played in Newport, R.I. (August 20-23), Charlotte (Sept. 24-27), Surprise, Ariz. (Oct. 8-11) and Dubai, U.A.E. (Nov. 18-21).
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years, including Andre Agassi, Sampras, McEnroe, 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 Outback Champions Series features eight events on its 2009 schedule with each event featuring $150,000 in prize money as well as Champions Series ranking points that will determine the year-end No. 1.
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 "Legendary Night" exhibitions, charity events and tennis fantasy camps such as 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.
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.