Mikael Pernfors

SURPRISE, Ariz., November 9 – John McEnroe finally broke his final-round hex against Todd Martin, saving three match points and winning a windy and wild final at the $150,000 Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise Sunday at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex in suburban Phoenix. After losing to Martin in three previous finals on the Outback Champions Series circuit, the 49-year-old McEnroe broke through to beat Martin 3-6, 7-6 (3), 11-9 (Champions Tie-breaker) to win $50,000 in prize money and his second career title on the New York-based global tennis circuit for champion tennis players over the age of 30.
Playing in severe desert wind gusts of up to 35 mph that knocked over courtside umbrellas and chairs, McEnroe faced triple match point with Martin serving for the match leading 6-3, 6-5, 40-0. McEnroe, however, clawed his way back to break Martin’s serve and force a second-set tie-breaker. With the second-set tie-breaker tied at 3-3, McEnroe won the final four points, benefitting from a Martin double-fault on the final point, to force the decisive Champions Tie-breaker, a 10-point tie-breaker played in lieu of a third-set. McEnroe took an early 5-1 lead in the Champions Tie-breaker and held on to reach double-match point at 9-7. McEnroe then committed two errors for 9-9, before Martin’s missed forehand gave McEnroe his third match point at 10-9. McEnroe then closed out the match with an ace, using his signature left-handed slice serve out wide on the ad-court to finish the epic match in style.
McEnroe said the gusty conditions were possibly “the windiest conditions I have ever played in” and credited the supportive and spirited Arizona crowd with giving him inspiration to win the title.
“I thought this may have been the best I played all year and I think a lot of that had to do with the crowds,” said McEnroe. “I was able to feed off of their energy all week. I think one of the keys was that I was able to shrug things off today. The older you get, it gets harder to do that but I really did a good job with that today.”
Martin, who earned $30,000 for the runner-up showing, was seeking his fourth career Outback Champions Series title, having won titles previously in Boston in 2006, Newport, R.I. in 2007 and Naples, Fla., earlier this year – all at the expense of McEnroe, his final-round victim in all three events.
“There were some totally bizarre points out there today given the conditions,” said the 38-year-old Martin of the windy conditions. “John has an advantage in those conditions because of the off pace ball that he hits. I’m 50-50 in those conditions and his tendencies give him an advantage. John just controls the ball so well and in those conditions you need to. If I played him in a tight-confined space, he may win every time.”
McEnroe started the match by breaking Martin in the opening game of the match and held for a 2-0 lead. Martin, however, rolled through the next five games to take a 5-2 lead before holding on to win the set 6-3. Martin broke McEnroe to lead 3-2 in the second set, only to have McEnroe break immediately back for 3-3. After holding serve, McEnroe broke Martin again to lead 5-3, but was unable to serve out the set. Martin then held serve to even the second set at 5-5. He then broke McEnroe to serve for the match at 6-5, where McEnroe began his spirited comeback.
McEnroe won his only previous title on the Outback Champions Series earlier this year in Boston, where he defeated Aaron Krickstein in the final.
In the third-place playoff Sunday, Magnus Larsson defeated Anders Jarryd 6-1, 7-6 (0) in an all-Swedish affair.
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
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 Results from Thursday, November 6
Magnus Larsson, Sweden, def. Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, 7-6 (9), 6-2
John McEnroe, United States, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 6-2, 6-2
Round Robin Results from Friday, November 7
Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, def. Karel Novacek, Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-2
Todd Martin, United States, def. Magnus Larsson, Sweden, 7-6 (2), 6-3
John McEnroe, United States, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 6-0, 6-4
Jim Courier, United States, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 6-3, 6-4
Round Robin Results from Saturday, November 8
Anders Jarryd, Sweden, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 6-4, 6-4
Jim Courier, United States, def. John McEnroe, United States, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 10-8
Magnus Larsson, Sweden, def. Karel Novacek, Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-1
Todd Martin, United States, def. Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, 3-7, 7-6 (4), 10-8 (Champions Tie-breaker)
Sunday, November 9
Third-Place Match
Magnus Larsson, Sweden, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 6-1, 7-6 (0)
Championship Match
John McEnroe, United States, vs. Todd Martin, United States, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 11-9 (Champions Tie-Breaker)
Round-Robin Group Standings
Group A
Todd Martin 3-0
Magnus Larsson 2-1
Wayne Ferreira 1-2
Karel Novacek 0-3
Group B
John McEnroe 2-1
Anders Jarryd 2-1
Jim Courier 2-1
Jimmy Arias 0-3

SURPRISE, Ariz., November 8 – John McEnroe will seek his second career singles title on the Outback Champions Series Sunday when he takes on Todd Martin in the final of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex in suburban Phoenix. Both McEnroe and Martin advanced into the final Saturday by virtue of winning their respective round-robin divisions.
McEnroe advanced into the title match despite losing his final round-robin match Saturday afternoon with Jim Courier 7-6 (7), 4-6, 10-8 (Champions Tie-breaker), but advanced into the championship match as the winner of Round Robin Group B in a three-way tie-breaker. McEnroe, Courier and Anders Jarryd of Sweden (a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Jimmy Arias earlier on Saturday) all finished round-robin play with 2-1 records. McEnroe, however, moved into the final having won five sets over three matches played during the week, while Jarryd and Courier only won four sets. Jarryd, a head-to-head winner over Courier on Wednesday night, will play in Sunday’s third-place match against fellow Swede Magnus Larsson.
Martin edged Wayne Ferreira of South Africa 3-6, 7-6 (4), 10-8 (Champions Tie-breaker) in the final match played Saturday evening to finish play in Round Robin Group A with a 3-0 record. After losing the first set on two service breaks, Martin rolled to a 5-2, two-service-break lead in the second set. Ferreira, however, fought back to square the set at 5-5 and eventually forced a tie-breaker. Martin jumped to a 4-1 lead and held on to win the tie-breaker 7-4. In the decisive Champions Tie-breaker – a 10-point tie-breaker played in lieu of a third set – both players split the first 12 points, before Martin reeled off three straight points to lead 9-6. After Ferreira won two straight points to close the gap to 9-8, Martin hit an unreturnable serve to close out the victory.
Martin will be seeking his fourth Outback Champions Series title having won titles in Boston in 2006, Newport, R.I. in 2007 and Naples, Fla., in 2008. Ironically, all three titles came at the expense of McEnroe in the championship match. McEnroe won his only previous title on the Outback Champions Series earlier this year in Boston, where he defeated Aaron Krickstein in the final.
After splitting the first two sets against McEnroe, Courier jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the Champions Tie-breaker. McEnroe, however, fought back to 8-8, benefitting from a Courier double fault at 8-7. Courier then fired an ace to reach his first match point at 9-8 and won the match on the next point when McEnroe committed an unforced error off of Courier’s return of serve.
Said McEnroe of reaching the final, “It is nice to have made the final to have a chance to win another tournament this year and finish on a high note.”
Larsson finished round-robin play with a 2-1 record by defeating Karel Novacek of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-1 Saturday.
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 (all times local);
Sunday, November 9
Noon
Anders Jarryd, Sweden, vs. Magnus Larsson, Sweden – Third Place Match
Followed By
John McEnroe, United States, vs. Todd Martin, United States – 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 Results from Thursday, November 6
Magnus Larsson, Sweden, def. Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, 7-6 (9), 6-2
John McEnroe, United States, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 6-2, 6-2
Round Robin Results from Friday, November 7
Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, def. Karel Novacek, Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-2
Todd Martin, United States, def. Magnus Larsson, Sweden, 7-6 (2), 6-3
John McEnroe, United States, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 6-0, 6-4
Jim Courier, United States, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 6-3, 6-4
Round Robin Results from Saturday, November 8
Anders Jarryd, Sweden, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 6-4, 6-4
Jim Courier, United States, def. John McEnroe, United States, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 10-8
Magnus Larsson, Sweden, def. Karel Novacek, Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-1
Todd Martin, United States, def. Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, 3-7, 7-6 (4), 10-8 (Champions Tie-breaker)
Round-Robin Group Standings
Group A
Todd Martin 3-0
Magnus Larsson 2-1
Wayne Ferreira 1-2
Karel Novacek 0-3
Group B
John McEnroe 2-1
Anders Jarryd 2-1
Jim Courier 2-1
Jimmy Arias 0-3

SURPRISE, Ariz., November 7 – John McEnroe and Todd Martin both notched wins Friday to stay undefeated in round-robin play at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex. McEnroe won the first eight games of the match in beating Anders Jarryd of Sweden 6-0, 6-4, while Martin gutted out a 7-6 (2), 6-3 win over another Swede, Magnus Larsson. Also registering wins Friday in round-robin play were Wayne Ferreira and Jim Courier – Ferreira beating Karel Novacek 6-1, 6-2 and Courier besting Jimmy Arias 6-3, 6-4. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise is the seventh of eight events on the Outback Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for tennis players over the age of 30.
With wins in Saturday’s final round-robin matches, both McEnroe and Martin will advance into the Sunday final in the suburbs of Phoenix. Martin will take on Ferreira in the second match of the 5 pm evening session Saturday, while McEnroe will face Courier in the second match of the 2 pm afternoon session. McEnroe and Martin faced off in the final of The Olivier Group Champions Cup in Naples, Fla., the first event on the 2008 Outback Champions Series, earlier this year in February with Martin winning 6-3, 6-1.
Against Jarryd, McEnroe swept through the first set in just over 30 minutes in front of a second consecutive sell-out crowd, breaking his Swedish opponent in the first, third and fifth games of the match. After serving out the first set 6-0, McEnroe opened the second set with another service break and a service hold before Jarryd finally got on the scoreboard in the third game of the second set. Jarryd got back into the match briefly by breaking McEnroe’s serve to tie the score at 3-3 in the second set, but McEnroe broke Jarryd back in the ninth game of the second set, and calmly served out the match the next game.
Playing in his first Outback Champions Series event since the International Tennis Hall of Fame Champions Cup in Newport, R.I. in August, McEnroe called his win over Jarryd “one of the best matches I have played” on the Outback Champions Series.
“My game plan going in was quite simple – I just wanted to be ready and sharp and I came out really moving well,” said McEnroe. “He wasn’t getting a lot of serves in early and I was really consistent with my serve, especially in the first set.”
McEnroe, a keen observer and evaluator of the sport better known nowadays as a TV commentator than as a player, praised the tennis fans of Arizona, the city of Surprise and its new public tennis facility following his win.
“The crowds here are great,” he said. “I’m really glad to hear this is a public facility. It makes me happy to hear we have a facility like this where it is affordable for people to learn the game. I think that’s been the problem with tennis recently – it isn’t affordable for everyone. To have a public facility with so many courts – and it’s reasonable – is really good to hear.”
Jarryd entered the match with McEnroe having upset Courier, the top ranked player on the Outback Champions Series, in Wednesday’s session.
“I had a lot of trouble finding my rhythm today,” said Jarryd. “I kept digging deeper and deeper and just couldn’t find my rhythm. John played really well.”
Martin was relieved after finishing off Larsson, a player whom he struggled against through the years. Entering their match Friday, the series between the two players stood even at 5-5, including a split of their two previous Outback Champions Series meetings. Martin beat Larsson 4-6, 7-5, 10-4 (Champions Tiebreaker) on a lightning fast outdoor hard court in Athens, Greece in 2007, while Larsson beat Martin 6-3, 6-4 indoors in Memphis in 2006. In their ATP tour careers, the players split their eight meetings – Larsson winning the first four matches in 1994 and 1995, including the fifth and decisive match in the United States vs. Sweden Davis Cup semifinal in 1994. Martin won the last four ATP meetings from 1996 to 2001.
“Today it was difficult to play. I’m so glad its over,” said Martin Friday. “He had good groundstrokes on both sides and is so gifted with two hands. It’s incredible. Today I felt this was the best I have played against him. Today I felt in control with him and I served very well. I served and volleyed a lot with Magnus today which I normally do not do. It was a difficult match and Magnus played really well.”
Ferreira and Courier both evened their round-robin records at 1-1 with their victories Friday. Ferreira controlled play from wire to wire against Novacek, using strong first serves and heavy forehands to force numerous errors from Novacek.
“I thought I played well yesterday (against Larsson) but today I was really hitting the ball well,” said Ferreira. “I am feeling very confident. I was also serving and volleying a little bit more today.”
Courier subdued Arias with his blistering serves and crushing forehands in a high-spirited, entertaining match that delighted fans.
“This was a good match for me,” said Courier. “It built my confidence and now I feel very confident going into my next match tomorrow against John. It’s great to play in front of large crowds here in Surprise.”
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 (all times local);
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 Results from Thursday, November 6
Magnus Larsson, Sweden, def. Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, 7-6 (9), 6-2
John McEnroe, United States, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 6-2, 6-2
Round Robin Results from Friday, November 7
Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, def. Karel Novacek, Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-2
Todd Martin, United States, def. Magnus Larsson, Sweden, 7-6 (2), 6-3
John McEnroe, United States, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 6-0, 6-4
Jim Courier, United States, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 6-3, 6-4
Round-Robin Group Standings
Group A
Todd Martin 2-0
Magnus Larsson 1-1
Wayne Ferreira 1-1
Karel Novacek 0-2
Group B
John McEnroe 2-0
Jim Courier 1-1
Anders Jarryd 1-1
Jimmy Arias 0-2

SURPRISE, Ariz., November 6 – John McEnroe returned to play on the Outback Champions Series tennis circuit Thursday defeating fellow American Jimmy Arias 6-2, 6-2 in front of a sold-out crowd in his opening round-robin match at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex. Magnus Larsson of Sweden also won his opening round-robin match at the event Thursday defeating Wayne Ferreira of South Africa 7-6 (9), 6-2. 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.
Playing in his first Outback Champions Series event since the International Tennis Hall of Fame Champions Cup in Newport, R.I. in August, McEnroe had little trouble with Arias, playing a near flawless match. McEnroe broke his former Davis Cup teammate twice in each set and displayed pinpoint serving and deft touch that kept Arias off balance for most of the evening. In their last meeting, Arias chalked up his lone career victory over McEnroe in any capacity, registering one of the biggest upsets in Outback Champions Series history in defeating the three-time Wimbledon champion 7-5, 6-2 in round-robin play in the Cayman Islands in April. Quipped Arias of his win over McEnroe at the time, “I’ve lost to him 735 times. I don’t know the exact count but it’s many times that I’ve lost.”
Larsson’s win over Ferreira can be considered a mild upset as Ferreira has been in top form this year on the Outback Champions Series, earning the No. 2 spot behind Jim Courier in the Stanford Champions Rankings. Larsson, however, has won three of four previous Outback Champions Series meetings with Ferreira, including the final in Memphis in 2006 and in the third-place match in Athens, Greece in 2007. Larsson also won four of six meetings over Ferreira on the ATP tour, including a round of 16 match-up at the 1997 U.S. Open.
Both players held serve throughout the first set to force the tie-breaker, where Ferreira held three set points – leading 6-4 and 8-7. Larsson, however, clinched the set on his third set point when Ferreira barely missed a forehand down-the-line passing shot.
Said Ferreira of the missed passing shot, “I didn’t see it because the board in the net was in the way, so I didn’t have a clue at all. It felt like it was close at least. It’s hard to say.”
Larsson then broke Ferreira to go up 2-1 and again to go up 4-1 in the second set before serving out the match in the seventh game.
Friday’s schedule is highlighted by Larsson taking on Todd Martin in the second match of the 2 pm afternoon session in a battle of players with 1-0 round-robin records. In another match featuring two 1-0 players, McEnroe will face Anders Jarryd in the first match of the 7 pm evening session. The McEnroe-Jarryd match will be played 28 years to the week of perhaps their most famous confrontation at the semifinals of the 1984 Stockholm Open, where on November 4, 1984, McEnroe conducted one of his most famous on-court tirades of his career – highlighted by him saying his oft-mimicked and imitated line to the chair umpire “Answer my question – the question, jerk” – in his 1-6, 7-6, 6-2 victory that featured him losing 15 points in a row at one stretch in the first set and overcoming a point and game penalty in the second set.
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 (all times local);
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 Results from Thursday, November 6, 2008
Magnus Larsson, Sweden, def. Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, 7-6 (9), 6-2
John McEnroe, United States, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 6-2, 6-2
Round-Robin Group Standings
Group A
Todd Martin 1-0
Magnus Larsson 1-0
Wayne Ferreira 0-1
Karel Novacek 0-1
Group B
Anders Jarryd 1-0
John McEnroe 1-0
Jimmy Arias 0-1
Jim Courier 0-1