SURPRISE, Ariz., November 5 – Anders Jarryd of Sweden registered a major “surprise” at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex, upsetting two-time French and Australian Open champion Jim Courier 6-3, 7-6 (2) Wednesday on the opening night of play. Also on Wednesday, Todd Martin needed less than an hour – and surrendered only two games – in defeating Karel Novacek of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-1. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise is a first-year-event on the Outback Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for tennis players over the age of 30.
Jarryd, playing in only his second Outback Champions Series event on the year, was the steadier and more consistent player in the cold, blustery conditions to register his first career win against Courier, the clear-cut No. 1 ranked player this year in the Stanford Champions rankings that determine the year-end No. 1 player on the Outback Champions Series. Jarryd, ranked No. 5 in the world in 1985, broke Courier’s serve in the sixth game of the first set to go up 4-2 and held serve twice to close out the first set 6-3. Jarryd then broke in the ninth game of the second set and served for the match at 5-4 before Courier cracked four forehand returns to break serve to even the set at 5-5. After both players held serve, Jarryd then ran out the tie-breaker 7-2 as Courier double-faulted on the final point to lose the match.
“At the beginning, he had some chances but he just kept holding serve,” said Jarryd, who had been training in Arizona since Saturday. “For me, not making errors and the break at 4-2 in the first set was big. He was having trouble with the wind at 2-3. I’m usually a lousy wind player. The extra days I have been here have especially helped adjust with the time difference.”
In their two previous meetings on the Outback Champions Series, Courier beat Jarryd 6-2, 7-5 earlier this year on clay in Naples, Fla., and by a 6-4, 6-3 margin also on clay in Houston in 2006. During their ATP careers, Courier won all three meetings.
Novacek was not able to get into any sort of rhythm against Martin, making numerous unforced errors while enduring Martin’s strong service game. The Czech standout, a U.S. Open semifinalist in 1994, was so frustrated with his game that he was given two code violations for racquet abuse in the second set.
Four-time U.S. Open champion John McEnroe will play his opening match at the event Thursday night against fellow American Jimmy Arias. McEnroe is competing in his first Outback Champions Series event since he last competed in Newport, R.I. in August. Also on Thursday’s schedule will be Wayne Ferreira of South Africa taking on Magnus Larsson of Sweden. Jarryd and Martin will attempt to increase their round-robin records to 2-0 on Friday with matches against Magnus Larsson and McEnroe, respectively.
The Outback Champions Series features eight events on its 2008 schedule with each event featuring an eight-man round-robin match format. The winner of each four-player division meets in the title match while second place finishers in each division play in the third-place match. Each event features $150,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $54,000 as well as Champions Series ranking points that will determine the year-end Stanford Champions Rankings No. 1. Beginning in 2008, the year-end champion will receive a $100,000 bonus courtesy of Stanford Financial Group, the official rankings sponsor of the Outback Champions Series.
The 2008 Outback Champions Series kicked off March 12-16 in Naples, Fla., at The Oliver Group Champions Cup where Martin defeated McEnroe in the final. Courier won the second event of the season at The Residences at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman Legends Championships April 16-20, defeating Ferreira in the final, while McEnroe won his first career Outback Champions Series even in Boston April 30- May 4, defeating Aaron Krickstein in the final. Pat Cash won his first Outback Champions Series title in Newport, R.I., in August, defeating Courier in the final, while Courier won his second and third titles of the season in September in Charlotte and in October in Dallas, defeating Martin and Thomas Enqvist in the final, respectively. The final event in 2008 will be held in Dubai, U.A.E., Nov. 19-22.
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years, including Pete Sampras, McEnroe, Courier and many 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. Each event also has the right to choose a “wild card” entrant. More information on the Outback Champions Series can be obtained by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.
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 one-night “Legendary Night” exhibitions as well as charity events and tennis fantasy camps, including the annual Ultimate Fantasy Camp. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com
The remaining schedule for the event is as follows;
Thursday, November 6
6:30 pm
Magnus Larsson vs. Wayne Ferreira
Followed by
John McEnroe vs. Jimmy Arias
Friday, November 7
2:00 pm
Wayne Ferreira vs. Karel Novacek
Followed by
Todd Martin vs. Magnus Larsson
7:00 pm
John McEnroe vs. Anders Jarryd
Followed by
Jim Courier vs. Jimmy Arias
Saturday, November 8
Noon
Anders Jarryd vs. Jimmy Arias
Followed by
Jim Courier vs. John McEnroe
5:00 pm
Magnus Larsson vs. Karel Novacek
Followed by
Todd Martin vs. Wayne Ferreira
Sunday, November 9
Noon
Third Place Match
Followed By
Championship Match
Round-Robin Results from Wednesday, November 5
Todd Martin, United States, def. Karel Novacek, Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-1
Anders Jarryd, Sweden, def. Jim Courier, United States, 6-3, 7-6 (2)
Round-Robin Group Standings
Group A
Todd Martin 1-0
Wayne Ferreira 0-0
Magnus Larsson 0-0
Karel Novacek 0-1
Group B
Anders Jarryd 1-0
John McEnroe 0-0
Jimmy Arias 0-0
Jim Courier 0-1
