World Tennis Challenge (WTC) is a team competition between 4 countries featuring 1 current and 1 past player from each country. It is an innovative sports entertainment event that will attract past legends and current champions of the sport.
AUSTRALIA, FRANCE, SWEDEN and USA are the four countries competing in the World Tennis Challenge 2009. View the teams through the Countries & Players section of the website.
All teams will play each other once over three nights at the iconic War Memorial Drive. The dates for World Tennis Challenge - Adelaide in 2009 will be Wednesday 14th to Friday 16th January, leading into the Australian Open in Melbourne from January 19th to February 1st.
World Tennis Challenge is partnership between World Tennis Challenge and Tennis SA, the governing body of tennis in South Australia and a member association of Tennis Australia.
World Tennis Challenge is proudly sponsored by the South Australian Government, through Events South Australia.
Teams
Australia (Pat Cash & Mark Philippoussis)
Sweden (Mats Wilander & Thomas Johansson)
France (Henri Leconte & Gael Monfils)
USA (Jim Courier & tbc)
davidrafael
11-24-2008, 02:07 AM
It's confirmed that the other USA player is Taylor Dent
And also, the current pro swedish player will be Robin Soderling, not Thomas Johansson
Labamba
12-02-2008, 08:15 PM
another change in the Swedish team, Soderling is replaced by Joachim Johansson :D
More affectionately known as ‘Pim Pim’, Johansson has won three ATP singles titles including Adelaide in 2005 where he defeated fellow WTC player Taylor Dent. Pim Pim holds the record for most aces served in one match as he aced Andre Agassi 51 times in the 4th round of the 2005 Australian Open (though he still lost the match in four sets). Johansson retired from professional tennis on 1 February 2008 due to his persistent shoulder injury. Johansson said there was "no other option" than to quit. But on 3 October 2008 he announced that he will return to the world of tennis and that his shoulder injury had healed. He was given a wild card to compete in the 2008 Stockholm Open. He stamped his return by beating Nicholas Mahut in the first round. He will use the World Tennis Challenge as the platform for his assault on the Australian Open 2009.
Australia
Pat Cash
Mark Philippoussis
Sweden
Mats Wilander
Joachim Johansson
France
Henri Leconte
Gael Monfils
USA
Jim Courier
Taylor Dent
frici
12-06-2008, 09:01 AM
Good luck Monfils és Leconte:)
Labamba
10-13-2009, 11:22 AM
Australia and France are confirmed to take part again next year
The dates for World Tennis Challenge - Adelaide in 2010 will be Tuesday 12th to Thursday 14th January, leading into the Australian Open in Melbourne from January 18th to January 31st 2010.
John McEnroe will headline World Tennis Challenge in January
October 21, 2009 Seven-times grand slam singles champion John McEnroe will headline the World Tennis Challenge in Adelaide in January.
The former world No.1 will partner fellow American Robby Ginepri in the unique teams event at Memorial Drive.
The tournament features four teams each made up of a former champion and a current player.
McEnroe and Ginepri will represent the Americas, with other teams coming from Australia, Europe and an international zone.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash will lead the Australian team and Henri Leconte will play for Europe.
Their partners have yet to be named.
Radek Stepanek, currently ranked 14 in the world, will play for the international team with his partner also to be confirmed.
In a statement released in Adelaide on Wednesday McEnroe said he was looking forward to the challenge.
"I can't wait to play in Adelaide," he said.
"I have fond memories of the city and the people and I think the combination of legends and current players competing against each other is a fantastic idea."
Tournament director Mark Woodforde said securing the services of Stepanek was great for the three-day event.
"Radek is a world-class player who has consistently been in the top 20 over many years," Woodforde said.
The World Tennis Challenge has scored another coup with Australia’s brightest young tennis star Bernard Tomic set to appear at the event (Memorial Drive 12-14 January 2010) as the Australasian ‘current’ player, partnering Pat Cash as the Australasian ‘legends’ player.
Said Bernard "I can't wait to play in Adelaide and be part of World Tennis Challenge. Playing alongside some of the greats will be a great learning curve. WTC is a fantastic concept and I think it will be great to play with Pat alongside some of the legends of the game. I think Adelaide is ideal preparation for the Australian Open."
Tennis SA CEO, Alistair MacDonald said “securing Bernard for this event, as a precursor to what is sure to be a huge year for him at the Australian Open is fantastic. It means Adelaide spectators will be able to join with the excitement accompanying Bernard wherever he plays and see him take on not only some of the other hottest stars of the current world of tennis but also hit up against some of the greatest legends of the game”.
Tomic joins the legendary John McEnroe and former top 15 and 3 time ATP singles title winner Robby Ginepri plus world #14 Radek Stepanek and crowd favourites from 2009 – the renowned and infamous Henri Leconte and Pat Cash. Tennis’ greatest entertainer, Mansour Bahrami, will also return as the wildcard for World Tennis Challenge 2010.
A current champion and former #1 round out an exciting line up for the World Tennis Challenge 2010
Gilles Simon and Mats Wilander have been announced as the final two players to complete the field for World Tennis Challenge 2010.
Simon, currently #12 on the ATP World Rankings, will represent the Europe team with French compatriot Henri Leconte. Simon started 2009 ranked sixth in the world and has maintained a top 10 position for the majority of the year, only recently falling to 12. He is currently the second ranked Frenchman behind Australian Open Finalist Jo-Wilfried Songa.
Simon is known for having a powerful forehand, while his backhand is consistent and is considered his best shot. He is an all-round tennis player, with variety and exhibits excellent defence.
Rounding out the field and partnering Radek Stepanek in the Internationals Team is 2009 World Tennis Challenge tennis legend and eternal crowd favourite Mats Wilander.
Mats is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden who won seven Grand Slam singles titles and one Grand Slam doubles title. He is particularly remembered for winning three of the four Grand Slam singles events in 1988, his most successful year on the tour. He was also a driving force behind Sweden's run of seven consecutive Davis Cup finals in the 1980s. Because two of his Australian Opens were won on grass, Wilander is one of the few players to have won Grand Slam singles titles on grass, hard, and clay courts.
WTC Director Darren Cahill was thrilled with the inclusion of Simon and Wilander:
"Mats thought that last year's event was amazing and he absolutely loved the concept. He is a huge draw card for the event and seeing him play along Cashy, Henri and now Johny Mac will be fantastic"
"Simon has had an incredible last 18 months including a long time now in the top ten. We have a quality field coming to Adelaide and a good mix of entertainment and top level tennis."
The complete field for the 2010 event is:
Australasia
Pat Cash & Bernard Tomic
Europe
Henri Leconte & Gilles Simon
International
Mats Wilander & Radek Stepanek
The Americas
John McEnroe & Robby Ginepri
Labamba
01-10-2010, 12:37 PM
link (http://www.worldtennischallenge.com/WTCWorldTennisChallenge.htm)
Wilander out and Rafter in
Tennis legend and crowd favourite in 2009, Mats Wilander has pulled out of the World Tennis Challenge (Adelaide 12 - 14 January) due to personal reasons. Mats was the captain of the International Team partnering current champion Radek Stepanek.
Co-Tournament Directors Darren Cahill, Mark Woodforde, Roger Rasheed and Alistair MacDonald said:
"the loss of Mats is a blow t the event, he is truly one of the nicest players around and wish him all the best. We are however thrilled to announce that his replacement on Wednesday and Thursday nights will be Pat Rafter with event wildcard Mansour Bahrami filling in for Mats on the Tuesday night. Mansour will remain as the wildcard entry on Wednesday and Thursday night".
The change in the line-up will also be a bonus of sorts for World Tennis Challenge with event drawcard John McEnroe who was recently quoted as saying Rafter, who he has never played previously as one player he was keen to contend. McEnroe will face Rafter on Thursday night. The new draw has also resulted in a block buster for the ATP with Radek Stepanek and Gilles Simon facing of on Tuesday night in a top 20 World super match.
The WTC Draw is as follows:
Tuesday Night: Australia v Americas and International v Europe
Wednesday Night: Australia v International and Europe v Americas
Thursday Night: Australia v Europe and International v Americas
All teams and players will play each night with both courts featuring the matches above at the same time on each night.
# Draw is Subject to Change
The complete field for the 2010 event is:
Australasia - Pat Cash & Bernard Tomic
Europe - Henri Leconte & Gilles Simon
International - Pat Rafter & Radek Stepanek
The Americas - John McEnroe & Robby Ginepri
The World Tennis Challenge (WTC) opening night suitably named “Super Tuesday” was exactly that, a sensational evening that drew a record opening night crowd.
The stands at Memorial Drive were full, alive and buzzing as the star studded men’s singles players displayed an entertaining evening filled with exceptional tennis and entertainment.
The draw kicked off with the current men’s singles champions taking to the courts with Radek Stepanek (13) defeating Gilles Simon(15) in 7-6 (4), 6-0 on court one and seventeen year old Australian tennis sensation Bernard Tomic (291)wowing crowds by defeating twenty-seven year old Robby Ginepri (96) on court two 7-6 (4) 6-4.
As the men’s champions retreated to the sidelines to watch the legends take centre stage all eyes were back on court one when Pat Cash took to the court defeating world famous John McEnroe 8-6 in an entertaining battle. One could not overlook the ever charismatic dual Frenchman Henri Leconte and Mansour Bahrami who stole the hearts of the crowd with the amazingly entertaining spectacle consisting of endless tricks and role playing, with mimicking one another, Bahrami serving with six balls in one hand, catching tennis balls in pockets and general witty banter between the pair it was undoubtable a barrel of laughs for all with Leconte defeating Bahrami 8-5.
High profile guests included Minister Jane Lomax-Smith, former Tennis Australia CEO Paul McNamee, South Australian Tourism Commission Board member Robert Foorde and many more!
Off court entertainment saw guests invited to The Advertiser Autograph Island from 5.45pm – 6.15pm to seize an autograph from John McEnroe. – with McEnroe last playing visit to Australia being over 20 years ago it was undoubtable a marvellous opportunity for South Australians to take home a piece of history.
Results - Tuesday 12 Jan
Men’s Singles (Current)
Stepanek def. Simon 7-6(4) 6-0
Tomic def. Ginepri 7-6(4) 6-4
Sell out crowds for all three nights of the World Tennis Challenge (WTC) proved that the hottest place to be this summer was at the iconic War Memorial Drive from January 12 – 14.
Tonight, the Australian Team (Bernard Tomic & Pat Cash) took out the title for 2010 which was not surprisingly as Tomic’s sizzling winning streak leading into the Australian Open continued as he defeated current world ranked 15 Gilles Simon putting the Australian team is a strong position to win.
During the on court presentation Bernard said ‘he couldn’t have asked for more’ from the event and thanked event organisers Mark Woodforde, Darren Cahill and Roger Rasheed who together with Tennis SA Alistair McDonald brought this revolutionary event to Adelaide.
Results – Thursday 14 January 2010
Court 1 – play commenced at 7.00pm
CURRENT PLAYERS
Bernard Tomic (291) def. Gilles Simon (15) 6-0, 6-7 (4-7), (10-6)
Italian Tennis Channel "Super Tennis" is showing the highlights of this event from today to Sunday.
every day 22:30 - 23:30
and repeat in the next day 11:00 - 12:00
http://www.supertennis.tv/
You can watch the official live streaming only in Italy, but there're some pirate live streaming on internet, I think.
Labamba
12-15-2010, 04:56 PM
Player field for 2011
International
Ivan Lendl & Ivan Ljubicic
Australasia
Pat Cash & Kei Nishikori
Europe
Henri Leconte & Michael Llodra
Americas
John McEnroe & James Blake
final score mcenroe and leconte , why nishikori dont play ?
hotdog
01-11-2011, 05:03 PM
Nishikori was taken ill. Suspected appendicitis.
www.tennisform.com
abruzzi
01-12-2011, 10:24 AM
some pics i took yesterday ;) leconte was up to his usual shananagans as always; he fell off a chair at one point and started yelling at a guy in the stands, then dancing around the court :lol:
R. Harrison - Llodra 4:6, 7:6, 8:10
J. McEnroe - Leconte 7:6
R. Harrison/J. McEnroe - Llodra/Leconte 6:4.
DanaKz
01-12-2011, 02:58 PM
some pics i took yesterday ;) leconte was up to his usual shananagans as always; he fell off a chair at one point and started yelling at a guy in the stands, then dancing around the court :lol:
I have a lot more so if anyone wants me to post the rest let me know ;)