Champions Gather in Zurich For Unique Week of Tennis

The ATP Champions Tour launched the latest new and unique addition to its 2010 calendar, the BNP Paribas Zurich Open, with a highly anticipated draw ceremony at the palatial Dolder Grand Hotel in the heart of the city on Monday.

The event, which is being held this week at Zurich’s Saalsporthalle, will bring the likes of John McEnroe and Stefan Edberg together with eight of the world’s best junior players in what is set to be an unprecedented celebration of tennis’ past and future champions. The ATP Champions Tour tournament will follow the traditional format, with eight past World Number Ones, Grand Slam Champions and Davis Cup winners competing for the title over five days. The twist is that, alongside these champions, eight of the world’s best junior players will compete in their own parallel tournament. Then, during the night session on each day of the event, tennis’ past and future champions will unite to play side-by-side in a separate doubles tournament where teams formed of one legend and one junior will do battle against one another. The event is being billed as 'Where Champions Meet Talents'.

At the draw ceremony on Monday, Tournament Chairman René Stammbach spoke of his delight at having eight of tennis’ most legendary names descend upon the Swiss Capital for the BNP Paribas Zurich Open.

“It's absolutely fabulous to host such successful champions and the new generation within one combined event at the BNP Paribas Zurich Open,” he said.

"I'm happy, Tennis is back in Zurich," added Gerold Lauber, City Counsellor and Head of the Sports Department of Switzerland.

Monday’s draw ceremony threw up some interesting clashes. In Group A, the 2001 Wimbledon Champion Goran Ivanisevic was drawn alongside a trio of French Open Champions - Sergi Bruguera, Michael Chang and Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Thirty eight year-old Ivaniseivc considers himself the favourite to lift the trophy come Saturday, despite the stern competition he will face in the round robin stage of the event. "I will win this tournament,” he said. “I'm in good shape and I’m feeling good.”

In Group B, seven-time Grand Slam Champion McEnroe was drawn to face fellow former World Number One Edberg, as well as 1996 Wimbledon Champion Richard Krajicek and talented Frenchman Henri Leconte. After a stunning run to the final of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships last month, McEnroe needs only to reach the third place play-off match on Saturday in order to top the South African Airways rankings.

The draw ceremony also gave some of the events junior players a chance to express their excitement at being given the opportunity to play alongside some of their sport’s greatest legends.

"It's a great honour for me to play with the legends," said Swiss 17-year-old, Claude Benz. "It's a good chance for us to learn from such great players."

"This tournament is so far the highlight of my career," added fellow talented Swiss youngster, Dimitri Bretting.

The BNP Paribas Zurich Open runs from the 9th to the 13th of March. To view the full order of play, click results.