Philippoussis Beats Wind, Ferreira In Grand Cayman
InsideOut Sports & Entertainment | April 23, 2009
Philippoussis Beats Wind, Ferreira In Grand Cayman
GRAND CAYMAN, April 23, 2009 – Mark Philippoussis of Australia battled winds gusting up to 35 mph and the steady baseline game of Wayne Ferreira Thursday to advance into the semifinals of the $150,000 The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships with a 6-7 (3), 6-4, (13-11 in Champions Tie-Break) victory over the defending finalist. Also advancing with a quarterfinal win Thursday in the eight-player event was Jimmy Arias of the United States, who defeated Mats Wilander of Sweden 6-2, 6-2. 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.
“It was tough conditions today, especially with the wind,” said Philippoussis of his win over Ferreira, played on a red clay court. “We did the best we could and the first match is always tough. I haven’t played in a long time with my injury, and it’s great to get back out there – and with no pain.”
Philippoussis, who has struggled with multiple knee surgeries in the last few years, converted on his fourth match-point opportunity against Ferreira in the Champions Tie-Break, played in lieu of a third set. He jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first set, but was broken back in the seventh game, before losing the first-set in a 7-3 tie-breaker. In the second set, Philippoussis and Ferreira exchanged breaks in the first seven games, before Philippoussis broke for a 5-3 lead, evening the match two games later with the 6-4 second-set win.
Philippoussis, 32, is playing in his third career Outback Champions Series event and said Thursday he still holds out hope of one day returning to the ATP Tour. He said his main goal for the week is to physically get through the tournament without pain and trouble with his knee.
“My ambition still is to get back on the tour,” said Philippoussis, the 2003 Wimbledon finalist who last played against ATP level competition at the 2007 Hopman Cup mixed team event in Perth, Australia. “It's been tough with my injury because I have been unable to get fit enough to play competitive tennis.”
Following knee surgery in early 2007, Philippoussis returned to competitive tournament tennis at the Outback Champions Series event in Dallas in 2007, losing the third-place match to John McEnroe. His only other Outback Champions Series tournament came earlier this year when he finished with a 1-2 round-robin record in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He will next play the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal match between defending champion Jim Courier and Mikael Pernfors of Sweden.
Ferreira expressed disappointment in the result and not being able to have another chance to win the title in Grand Cayman after losing last year’s final to Courier.
“It's disappointing after being so successful last year and of course it's always tough to lose a close match,” said the South African. “I went down fast in the first two sets. I had a slow start. Last year, I was able to play though the wind and this year I found it more difficult.”
For the second straight year, Arias was able to post a big match-victory in Grand Cayman with his win over Wilander. Last year, Arias posted his first tournament match victory of any kind against John McEnroe en route to a third-place finish, his best career result on the Outback Champions Series.
“I came on the court with confidence,” said Arias of his win over Wilander. “I’m a local. I’ve played on this court a million times. What was strange, the wind was blowing but not on my side of the court. Everything went my way, even when Mats got a point, I fought for it to be taken away.”
The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships features 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 remainder of the event is as follows;
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. Jimmy Arias
Starting at 6 pm
Doubles featuring all four losing quarterfinalist Jim Courier/Mikael Pernfors winner vs. Mark Philippoussis
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.