Kafelnikov, Ivanisevic, Leconte Join Field in Unique Zurich Event

The 2001 Wimbledon Champion Goran Ivanisevic, former World Number One Yevgeny Kafelnikov and flamboyant Frenchman Henri Leconte will join an already star-studded player-field in the unique BNP Paribas Zurich Open, which will be held for the first time at Zurich’s Saalsporthalle, March 9-13, 2010.

The trio join a line-up which already includes former World Number One players John McEnroe and Stefan Edberg, who confirmed their participation in the BNP Paribas Zurich Open earlier this year. Three further players will be announced over the coming weeks and months to round off the eight-man field.

The Zurich event will follow an unprecedented format with the eight former World Number Ones, Grand Slam Champions and Davis Cup winners competing against each other alongside a junior tournament featuring eight of the world’s best junior players. On the final day, tennis’ past and future champions will unite to play side-by-side in a doubles tournament where teams comprising one legend and one junior will do battle against one another. The event is being billed as: 'Where Champions Meet Talents'.

Tournament Director Catrin Mohwald Hufnagel is excited about how the Zurich Open is taking shape.

“We want to make this tournament into a completely unparalleled event,” she said. “We want to bring together tennis at the highest level with a unique challenge for some of the world’s the most talented youngsters.

“The challenge is to make the public fall in love with this tournament’s unique format,” she continued. “Although this is a big task, we think it is far from impossible. Where else in the world can you see on the same draw-sheet the names of the tennis Champions of old alongside those of the young pretenders to their throne.”

With the addition of Ivanisevic, Leconte and Kafelnikov to the event’s already glittering line-up of legendary tennis players, and three more yet-to-be-announced names, the BNP Paribas Zurich Open is already set to be a truly memorable tennis spectacle and one of the highlights of the ATP Champions Tour in 2010.

To purchase tickets for the Zurich Open visit: www.zurichopen.net or call the box office on: +41 (0)900 800 800.