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The Oliver Group Champions Cup

Martin Tops McEnroe To Win 2008 Outback Champions Series Opener in Naples

March 16, 2008 by Randy Walker

NAPLES, Fla., March 16, 2008 – Todd Martin defeated John McEnroe 6-3, 6-1 Sunday to win the singles title at the $150,000 The Oliver Group Champions Cup – the opening event on the 2008 Outback Champions Series tennis circuit. Martin, who finished 2007 as the No. 1 ranked player on the Outback Champions Series, earned $50,000 for the victory and also gained 700 ranking points to make him the early leader in the 2008 Stanford Champions Rankings. McEnroe earned $32,000 and 600 ranking points with the runner-up showing.
Todd Martin 2
The Naples title was Martin’s third Outback Champions Series tournament victory – all coming at the expense of McEnroe. Martin beat McEnroe in the final of the 2006 Champions Cup Boston as well as in the final of the 2007 International Tennis Hall of Fame Champions Cup in Newport, R.I.
“I felt I had an honorable first set and a half,” said McEnroe, 49, of the final. “I thought I was hitting the ball well but missed my chances. I also didn’t get a good handle on break points in the first set. When I miss a point that I feel I should get and don’t – that is frustrating. I had a few break points and missed them.”

McEnroe, playing in his final year of competitive tournament tennis, fell one match shy of his goal of winning his first Outback Champions Series event. Earlier this week, McEnroe said that 2008 would be his final year of competitive tournament tennis. “Definitely,” said McEnroe when asked if this was his final year. “I can’t keep on going just winning half of my matches.”
Said Martin of McEnroe and his contributions to tennis since he turned professional 30 years ago in 1978, “John has been very much the face of our sport. John is such an amazing talent. It is the difference between the type of talent of Michael Jordan had and Charles Barkley. Though Barkley was a great player, Jordan was so graceful and made everything happen. The way John played the game is so artistic and gifted. It is a joy to watch.”
Martin, 37, only advanced into the championship match by virtue of his straight-set win over Jim Courier on Saturday that enabled him to win a three-way tie breaker between himself, Courier and Aaron Krickstein – all three players finishing with 2-1 round robin records. Martin won the three-way tie-breaker by virtue of losing the least amount of sets between the three players in round-robin play. McEnroe finished round-robin play with a 3-0 record, beating Jimmy Arias, Mikael Pernfors and Magnus Larsson.
With his 700 ranking points earned during his week in Naples, Martin already has a leg up on defending his year-end No. 1 ranking that he earned last year on the Outback Champions Series. This year, however, the year-end No. 1 on the Stanford Champions Rankings will earn a $100,000 bonus. Martin said he liked the added element to the year-long competition.
“(The $100,000 bonus) is good incentive for the Outback Champions Series,” said Martin. “Last year I played five tournaments, which was more than I thought I was going to play, and this year I am planning on playing six tournaments.”
In Sunday’s third-place match, Courier defeated Pernfors 6-2, 6-2.
The Outback Champions Series is a collection of tennis events around the world featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. All Outback Champions Series events feature eight-man round-robin match formats with the winner of each four-player division meeting in the title match while second place finishers in each division meet in the third-place match. Each event features $150,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $54,000 as well as Stanford Champions ranking points that will determine the year-end champion and the winner of a $100,000 bonus. More information – including ticket information – is available by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.
About The Outback Champions Series
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features eight events where champion tennis players continue to exercise their competitive instincts in tournament formats that feature prize money and Champions Series ranking points that determine a year-end No. 1 player on the Stanford Champions Rankings. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have either; reached a Grand Slam 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.
About InsideOut Sports & Entertainment
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 corporate outings, 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.
About C & H Events
C & H Events, Inc. is a full-service event management and marketing company based in Boca Raton, Fla. Among the tennis events C & H Events manages in addition to The Oliver Group Champions Cup is Swingtime Benefiting the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, Mardy’s Tennis and Jake’s Music Fest to benefit the Mardy Fish Foundation, the Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic and Couples Resorts Tennis Fantasy Camp. Please visit www.chevents.com for further details about C & H Events.
ROUND ROBIN GROUP A
John McEnroe 3-0
Mikael Pernfors 1-2
Magnus Larsson 1-2
Jimmy Arias 1-2
ROUND ROBIN GROUP B
Todd Martin 2-1
Jim Courier 2-1
Aaron Krickstein 2-1
Anders Jarryd 0-3
Wednesday Results
Todd Martin, United States, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 7-6 (5), 6-3
Jim Courier, United States, def. Aaron Krickstein, United States, 6-1, 3-6, 10-6 (Champions Tie-Break)
Thursday Results
Mikael Pernfors, Sweden, def. Magnus Larsson, Sweden, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (5)
John McEnroe, United States, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 7-6(4), 2-6, 10-6 (Champions Tie Break)
Friday Results
Magnus Larsson, Sweden, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 6-4, 6-4
Aaron Krickstein, United States, def. Todd Martin, United States, 6-3, 6-7 (1), 10-3 (Champions Tie Break)
Jim Courier, United States, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 6-2, 7-5
John McEnroe, United States, def. Mikael Pernfors, Sweden, 4-6, 6-3, 10-6 (Champions Tie Break)
Saturday Results
Aaron Krickstein, United States, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 6-3, 6-4
Todd Martin, United States, def. Jim Courier, United States, 6-4, 6-4
Jimmy Arias, United States, def. Mikael Pernfors, Sweden, 2-6, 6-4, 13-11 (Champions Tie Break)
John McEnroe, United States, def. Magnus Larsson, Sweden, 6-3, 6-2
Sunday Results
Championship Match
Todd Martin, United States, def. John McEnroe, United States, 6-3, 6-1
Third Place Match
Jim Courier, United States, def. Mikael Pernfors, Sweden, 6-2, 6-2

Filed Under: Archives, Lead Story Tagged With: Aaron Krickstein, Jim Courier, Jimmy Arias, John McEnroe, Magnus Larsson, The Oliver Group Champions Cup, Todd Martin

McEnroe and Martin Reach Final of The Oliver Group Champions Cup

March 16, 2008 by Randy Walker

NAPLES, Fla., March 15, 2008 – John McEnroe and Todd Martin advanced into the title match at $150,000 The Oliver Group Champions Cup Saturday with singles wins that clinched victories in their respective round robin groups. McEnroe overwhelmed Magnus Larsson 6-3, 6-2 to win Round Robin Group A with a 3-0 record, while Martin defeated Jim Courier 6-4, 6-4 to edge into the final with a 2-1 record in Round Robin Group B. The Oliver Group Champions Cup is the opening event on the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events around the world featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30.
Todd Martin - Oliver Group Champions CupMcEnroe, who this week said this was “definitely” his final year of competitive tournament tennis, will be gunning for his first title on the Outback Champions Series after losing two previous finals – both to Martin in Boston in 2006 and in Newport, R.I. in 2007. Martin, last year’s No. 1 ranked player on the Outback Champions Series, will be competing in his eighth Outback singles final and will be seeking his third title to go with his 2006 title in Boston and his 2007 title in Newport.
“It will be a tough match,” said McEnroe of the final. “Todd uses the angles well and puts you on the defensive. His second serve return is great – it’s one of the best around. I can’t really stay back with him so I will have to move up and cut off the angles.”

Martin advanced into the championship match by virtue of his straight-set win over Courier. Martin’s win – coupled with Aaron Krickstein’s win Saturday over Anders Jarryd – created a three-way tie between Martin, Courier and Krickstein on top Round Robin Group B with 2-1 records. Martin won the three-way tie-breaker by virtue of losing the least amount of sets between the three players in round-robin play. Courier, by virtue of his head-to-head victory over Krickstein, will play in Sunday’s third place match against Sweden’s Mikael Pernfors.
Martin and Courier battled in afternoon winds that gusted to 30 mph, with Martin able to more successfully hit through the wind to record the straight-set victory that moved him into the championship match.
“Yes it was windy, but that is the best I have served in a while,” said Martin. “I just came out here and am glad I got it done. I knew today I would have to serve well for it is a long shot to beat Jim on clay in the finals. It is important for me start this season out well.”
Said Courier, “To Todd’s credit he played a better match. When Todd got himself in trouble he dug himself out with great serves, much like a great pitcher.”
McEnroe struggled in his first two round-robin matches, beating both Pernfors and Jimmy Arias in matches both decided by 10-6 Champions Tie-Breaks (played in lieu of a third set). Against the 37-year-old Larsson, 12 years McEnroe’s junior, the four-time U.S. Open champion was able to find his form to clinch a spot in the final.
“I moved better today,” said McEnroe, who turned 49 on February 16. “I felt my first step was slow the first couple of days, but it got better. It took longer than I had hoped. I was serving reasonable well. I was on and he was not.”
In other round-robin matches Saturday, Krickstein defeated Jarryd 6-3, 6-4 and Arias came back from a 6-2, 3-0 deficit to upset Pernfors 2-6, 6-4, 13-11 (Champions Tie-Break)
The Oliver Group Champions Cup features an eight-man round-robin match format with the winner of each four-player division meeting in the title match while second place finishers in each division meet in the third-place match. The event features $150,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $54,000 as well as Stanford Champions ranking points that will determine the year-end champion and the winner of a $100,000 bonus. More information – including ticket information – is available by visiting http://www.championsseriestennis.com.
About The Outback Champions Series
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features eight events where champion tennis players continue to exercise their competitive instincts in tournament formats that feature prize money and Champions Series ranking points that determine a year-end No. 1 player on the Stanford Champions Rankings. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have either; reached a Grand Slam 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.
About InsideOut Sports & Entertainment
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 corporate outings, charity events and tennis fantasy camps, including the annual Ultimate Fantasy Camp.
For more information, please log on to http://www.InsideOutSE.com or http://www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com
About C & H Events
C & H Events, Inc. is a full-service event management and marketing company based in Boca Raton, Fla. Among the tennis events C & H Events manages in addition to The Oliver Group Champions Cup is Swingtime Benefiting the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, Mardy’s Tennis and Jake’s Music Fest to benefit the Mardy Fish Foundation, the Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic and Couples Resorts Tennis Fantasy Camp. Please visit http://www.chevents.com for further details about C & H Events.
ROUND ROBIN GROUP A
John McEnroe 3-0
Mikael Pernfors 1-2
Magnus Larsson 1-2
Jimmy Arias 1-2
ROUND ROBIN GROUP B
Todd Martin 2-1
Jim Courier 2-1
Aaron Krickstein 2-1
Anders Jarryd 0-3
Wednesday Results
Todd Martin, United States, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 7-6 (5), 6-3
Jim Courier, United States, def. Aaron Krickstein, United States, 6-1, 3-6,
10-6 (Champions Tie-Break)
Thursday Results
Mikael Pernfors, Sweden, def. Magnus Larsson, Sweden, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (5)
John McEnroe, United States, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 7-6(4), 2-6,
10-6 (Champions Tie Break)
Friday Results
Aaron Krickstein, United States, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 6-3, 6-4
Todd Martin, United States, def. Jim Courier, United States, 6-4, 6-4
Jimmy Arias, United States, def. Mikael Pernfors, Sweden, 2-6, 6-4, 13-11
(Champions Tie Break)
Saturday Results
Aaron Krickstein, United States, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 6-3, 6-4
Todd Martin, United States, def. Jim Courier, United States, 6-4, 6-4
Jimmy Arias, United States, def. Mikael Pernfors, Sweden, 2-6, 6-4, 13-11
(Champions Tie Break)
John McEnroe, United States, def. Magnus Larsson, Sweden, 6-3, 6-2
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
1:30 pm
Third-Place Match
To Follow
Championship Match

Filed Under: Archives, Lead Story Tagged With: Aaron Krickstein, Jim Courier, Jimmy Arias, John McEnroe, Magnus Larsson, The Oliver Group Champions Cup, Todd Martin

Krickstein Stuns Martin At The Oliver Group Champions Cup In Naples

March 15, 2008 by Randy Walker

NAPLES, Fla., March 14, 2008 – Aaron Krickstein continued his run of good play at The Oliver Group Champions Cup Friday staging a 6-3, 6-7 (1), 10-3 (Champions Tie Break) upset of Todd Martin, the No. 1 ranked player on the Outback Champions Series from 2007, on the second day of round robin play at the Players Club & Spa at Lely Resort. Other winners on the third day of competition included John McEnroe, Jim Courier and Magnus Larsson. McEnroe defeated Mikael Pernfors 4-6, 6-3, 10-6 (Champions Tie-Break), Courier defeated Anders Jarryd 6-2, 7-5 and Larsson defeated Jimmy Arias 6-4, 6-4. The Oliver Group Champions Cup is the opening event on the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events around the world featuring the greatest names in tennis overAaron Kricksteinthe age of 30.
Last year, Krickstein reached the singles final in Naples – his best career result on the Outback Champions Series – losing to Wayne Ferreira. After losing to Courier in Wednesday’s opening round-robin match, Krickstein put himself in position to qualify for either Sunday’s championship match or third-place match with his upset over Martin.
Said Martin of the Krickstein match, “Aaron played real well today. He has not played well against me in other tournaments in the series and this time he did. The two most important things when you play is how you control your mind and the way you move and today Aaron was moving well and was aware of what he was doing.”
Krickstein is playing in Naples this week with a relative relic of a tennis racquet – the Wilson Pro Staff – that was debuted on the tennis market in the early 1980s. The former U.S. Davis Cup standout said his comfort level and feel he has with the older racquet frame allows him to play better than with the more technologically advanced racquets.

“I tend to use racquets for a long time – and when I find that I’m comfortable with them, and I’m playing well, I don’t find a reason to change,” said Krickstein. “Some of my racquets are almost 22 years old. I still have many of the racquets that I’ve used for many years, and I just prefer them to some of the new technology. It’s about being comfortable and being able to focus on keeping the rest of my game sharp.”
McEnroe won his second straight match in a Champions Tie Break (played in lieu of a third set) against Pernfors. On Thursday night, McEnroe defeated Arias also in a 10-6 Champions Tie-Break. The four-time US Open champion can clinch a spot in Sunday’s singles final with a win over Larsson Saturday night. McEnroe is seeking his first singles title on the Outback Champions Series.
“I still feel I have not found my range,” said McEnroe of his first two match wins in Naples. “To be honest, I have been lucky.”
McEnroe credited his serve that allowed him to overpower the crafty Pernfors.
“I hit a lot of good serves in the second set including my second serve which is helpful,” McEnroe said. “I wasn’t hitting a lot on the baseline so I tried coming in and it was working. I started taking more chances and it worked.”
Round-robin play concludes Saturday as Krickstein takes on Jarryd and Martin meets Courier in the afternoon session, while the night session features Arias against Pernfors and McEnroe against Larsson.
The Oliver Group Champions Cup features an eight-man round-robin match format with the winner of each four-player division meeting in the title match while second place finishers in each division meet in the third-place match. The event features $150,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $54,000 as well as Stanford Champions ranking points that will determine the year-end champion and the winner of a $100,000 bonus. More information – including ticket information – is available by visiting http://www.championsseriestennis.com/
About The Outback Champions Series
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features eight events where champion tennis players continue to exercise their competitive instincts in tournament formats that feature prize money and Champions Series ranking points that determine a year-end No. 1 player on the Stanford Champions Rankings. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have either; reached a Grand Slam 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.
About InsideOut Sports & Entertainment
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 corporate outings, charity events and tennis fantasy camps, including the annual Ultimate Fantasy Camp. For more information, please log on to http://www.InsideOutSE.com or http://www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com .
About C & H Events
C & H Events, Inc. is a full-service event management and marketing company based in Boca Raton, Fla. Among the tennis events C & H Events manages in addition to The Oliver Group Champions Cup is Swingtime Benefiting the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, Mardy’s Tennis and Jake’s Music Fest to benefit the Mardy Fish Foundation, the Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic and Couples Resorts Tennis Fantasy Camp. Please visit http://www.chevents.com/ for further details about C & H Events.
ROUND ROBIN GROUP A
John McEnroe 1-0
Mikael Pernfors 1-0
Magnus Larsson 1-1
Jimmy Arias 0-2
ROUND ROBIN GROUP B
Jim Courier 1-0
Aaron Krickstein 1-1
Todd Martin 1-1
Anders Jarryd 0-1
Wednesday Results
Todd Martin, United States, def. Anders Jarryd, Sweden, 7-6 (5), 6-3
Jim Courier, United States, def. Aaron Krickstein, United States, 6-1, 3-6,
10-6 (Champions Tie-Break)
Thursday Results
Mikael Pernfors, Sweden, def. Magnus Larsson, Sweden, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (5)
John McEnroe, United States, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 7-6(4), 2-6,
10-6 (Champions Tie Break)
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
1:30 pm
Aaron Krickstein vs. Anders Jarryd
Todd Martin vs. Jim Courier
6:30 pm
Mikael Pernfors vs. Jimmy Arias
John McEnroe vs. Magnus Larsson
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
1:30 pm
Third-Place Match
To Follow
Championship Match

Filed Under: Archives, Lead Story Tagged With: Aaron Krickstein, Jim Courier, Jimmy Arias, John McEnroe, Magnus Larsson, The Oliver Group Champions Cup, Todd Martin

McEnroe Edges Arias in Naples Opener

March 14, 2008 by Randy Walker

NAPLES, Fla., March 13, 2008 – John McEnroe began what could be his final year of competitive tournament tennis Thursday, defeating Jimmy Arias 7-6(4), 2-6, 10-6 (Champions Tie Break) in his opening round-robin match at the $150,000 The Oliver Group Champions Cup at the Players Club & Spa at Lely Resort. In the evening’s other match, Mikael Pernfors defeated fellow Swede Magnus Larsson 7-6 (8), 7-6 (5). The Oliver Group Champions Cup is the opening event on the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events around the world featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30.
John McEnroe 1McEnroe, who turned 49 on February 16, has hinted that he would stop playing tournament tennis after he turns 50. He said earlier this week that he is “looking at my options” as he begins his 30th full year as a tennis professional. The four-time U.S. champion showed his high octane competitive juices were still overflowing against the 43-year-old Arias, grinding out a 10-6 Champions Tie Break, played in lieu of a third-set, against the 1983 U.S. Clay Court and Italian Open champion.
“When you get to the tie-break, it really is a roll of the dice,” said McEnroe.“Once you get ahead (5-1 in Champions Tie Break) like that, it is tough to come back.”
Said Arias of the match, “I was ripping ground strokes tonight. My backhand was really good for me. I was happy with how I played.”
Pernfors, the two-time NCAA champion at the University of Georgia and 1986 French Open runner-up, credited his serve in the upset of Larsson in the night session’s opening match.
“I served better than I ever had, not necessarily with speed but with placement hitting the balls on the lines,” said Pernfors. “I served as good as I can and by being able to put some pressure on him. I can’t play better in this part of my career. I feel good physically and am moving well, which hasn’t been the case for a while.”
Larsson, a late entry into the Naples field after defending champion Wayne Ferreira withdrew due to a right wrist injury, reached at least the singles final in two of his three previous two Outback Champions Series events. In 2006, he won the title in Memphis, defeating Ferreira in the final, while he lost to Ferreira in the final in Houston, also in 2006.
“I struggled the whole match and was never able to get up,” said Larsson. “Mikael was definitely the better player tonight. I made some good shots, but did not have control of the ball throughout the match.”
Round-robin play continues Friday as Larsson takes on Arias in the afternoon session’s opening match, followed by Todd Martin against Aaron Krickstein. In the Friday evening session, Jim Courier takes on Anders Jarryd followed by McEnroe against Pernfors.
The Oliver Group Champions Cup features an eight-man round-robin match format with the winner of each four-player division meeting in the title match while second place finishers in each division meet in the third-place match. The event features $150,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $54,000 as well as Stanford Champions ranking points that will determine the year-end champion and the winner of a $100,000 bonus. More information – including ticket information – is available by visiting http://www.championsseriestennis.com

About The Outback Champions Series
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features eight events where champion tennis players continue to exercise their competitive instincts in tournament formats that feature prize money and Champions Series ranking points that determine a year-end No. 1 player on the Stanford Champions Rankings. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have either; reached a Grand Slam 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.
About InsideOut Sports & Entertainment
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 corporate outings, 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
About C & H Events
C & H Events, Inc. is a full-service event management and marketing company based in Boca Raton, Fla. Among the tennis events C & H Events manages in addition to The Oliver Group Champions Cup is Swingtime Benefiting the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, Mardy’s Tennis and Jake’s Music Fest to benefit the Mardy Fish Foundation, the Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic and Couples Resorts Tennis Fantasy Camp. Please visit www.chevents.com for further details about C & H Events.

Filed Under: Archives, Lead Story Tagged With: Jimmy Arias, John McEnroe, Outback Champions Series, The Oliver Group Champions Cup

Larsson Replaces Injured Ferreira At The Oliver Group Champions Cup In Naples, Fla.

February 24, 2008 by Randy Walker

NEW YORK, N.Y., February 21, 2008 – InsideOut Sports & Entertainment and C & H Events, Inc. today announced that Swede Magnus Larsson will replace defending champion Wayne Ferreira in the eight-player field at the 2008 The Oliver Group Champions Cup in Naples, Fla., March 12-16 at The Players Club & Spa at Lely Resort. Ferreira was forced to withdraw from the event due to an injured right wrist.
Larsson, ranked a career-high of No. 10 in the world in 1995, led Sweden to Davis Cup titles in 1994 and 1997, guiding his country past the United States in the 1994 semifinals and in the 1997 final. Larsson won seven career titles on the ATP Tour and was also a semifinalist at the French Open in 1993 and was a doubles finalist at Roland Garros in 1995. On the Outback Champions Series, Larsson won the 2006 title in Memphis, defeating Ferreira in the final, and reached the final in Houston in 2006, losing to Ferreira.
Larsson will join fellow Swedes Mikael Pernfors and Anders Jarryd and Americans John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Todd Martin, Aaron Krickstein and Jimmy Arias in the Naples field.
“Magnus is a great addition to the field in Naples,” said Courier. “He is a very dangerous and talented player and has always been someone capable of beating anyone on any given day. He has won on the Outback Champions Series before so he will definitely challenge for this title.”
The Oliver Group Champions Cup will kick off the 2008 Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events around the world featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30.
The revised full schedule of play is as follows;
SCHEDULE FOR 2008 THE OLIVER GROUP CHAMPIONS CUP
Wednesday, March 12
Beginning at 7 pm
Todd Martin vs. Anders Jarryd
Followed by
Jim Courier vs. Aaron Krickstein
Thursday, March 13
Beginning at 7 pm
Magnus Larsson vs. Mikael Pernfors
Followed by
John McEnroe vs. Jimmy Arias
Friday, March 14
Beginning at 2 pm
Magnus Larsson vs. Jimmy Arias
Followed by
Todd Martin vs. Aaron Krickstein
Beginning at 7 pm
Jim Courier vs. Anders Jarryd
Followed by
John McEnroe vs. Mikael Pernfors

Saturday, March 15

Beginning at 1:30 pm
Aaron Krickstein vs. Anders Jarryd
Followed by
Todd Martin vs. Jim Courier
Beginning at 6:30 pm
Mikael Pernfors vs. Jimmy Arias
Followed by
John McEnroe vs. Magnus Larsson
Sunday, March 16
Beginning at 1:30 pm

Third-place Match
Followed by
Championship Match
The Oliver Group Champions Cup features $150,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $54,000. Players also will compete for Champions Series points that will determine the Stanford Champions Rankings year-end No. 1 on the Outback Champions Series and the winner of a $100,000 year-end bonus.
All Champions Series events feature eight-man round-robin match formats with the winner of each four-player division meeting in the title match while second place finishers in each division meet in the third-place match.
Tickets begin at just $15 and can be purchased by calling 877-332-TIXX (8499) or 954-241-7936.
Founded in 2005, the 2008 Outback Champions Series features eight events where champion tennis players continue to exercise their competitive instincts in tournament formats that feature prize money and Champions Series ranking points that determine a year-end No. 1 player. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have either; reached a Grand Slam 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.
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 corporate outings, 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
C & H Events, Inc. is a full-service event management and marketing company based in Boca Raton, Fla. Among the tennis events C & H Events manages in addition to The Oliver Group Champions Cup is Swingtime Benefiting the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, Mardy’s Tennis and Jake’s Music Fest to benefit the Mardy Fish Foundation, the Bank of the West Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic and Couples Resorts Tennis Fantasy Camp.
Please visit http://www.chevents.com/ for further details about C & H Events.

Filed Under: Archives Tagged With: Championship News, Jim Courier, John McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Mikeal Pernfors, Outback Champions Series, The Oliver Group Champions Cup

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