Sampras To Make China Debut

Tennis Legend Pete Sampras is to make his long-awaited debut in China as part of a star-studded eight man field at the second annual Chengdu Open, it was announced today. Sampras will take on old rivals Pat Rafter, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Michael Stich at the ATP Champions Tour event, which takes place October 21-24, 2010 at the Sichuan International Tennis Center in Chengdu.

Famed for being the home of the giant panda, the city of Chengdu warmly welcomed the ATP Champions Tour for the first time in 2009. The event was a roaring success with players and fans alike, and with the legendary Sampras gracing the event in 2010, fans are set for another feast of top quality tennis.

Sampras has been drawn into Group A for the round robin stages alongside the 1987 Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash as well as the French Davis Cup captain and recent Sao Paulo runner-up Guy Forget. The group is completed by ATP Champions Tour debutant Paradorn Srichaphan, whose stellar play over the past decade helped to ignite a tennis boom across South East Asia.

Group B will be headed by Rafter, as well as the defending Chengdu Open Champion Thomas Enqvist, the 1991 Wimbledon Champion Michael Stich and former World Number One Kafelnikov. In all, the eight players of the 2010 Chengdu Open hold a staggering 150 ATP World Tour singles titles and 62 ATP World Tour doubles titles between them.

Chengdu Open Tournament Director Nick Freyer is delighted to be welcoming 14-time Grand Slam Champion Sampras to China for the first time.

“It is a tremendous honor to join forces with Pete Sampras,” he said. “To make history with Pete’s first ever visit to China, and to do it in the company of so many other ATP Champions, is a coup for Chengdu and very exciting for all of us at the tournament.”

Enqvist, the current South African Airways Rankings Leader and holder of a formidable 21-1 win/loss record on the ATP Champions Tour, is relishing the opportunity to defend his Chengdu title, especially against one of the game’s all-time greats.

“I am really looking forward to coming back to Chengdu and trying to defend my title,” he said. “I had a fantastic time there last year and I’m looking forward to playing Pete Sampras because he’s such a great player. I hope I get to see the giant pandas again as well!”