Nine great players, eight of them former top 10 ranked, six of them Grand Slam champions with a total of 26 Grand Slam titles between them and a combined 233 ATP/WTA titles held – the 2016 World Tennis Challenge player line-up is one not to be missed.
Tournament Director Mark Woodforde has announced the players coming to Adelaide for the three day exhibition event that will take place from 12-14 January at the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre.
“We have an exceptionally strong line-up of great players for 2016,” Mr Woodforde said.
“We’re excited that current world No.14 Marin Cilic has agreed to play at the event after his shoulder injury saw him withdraw from the entire Australian Open season last year and the return of the women is fantastic. All three are Grand Slam winners including the 2013 Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli. We’re also looking forward to welcoming to Adelaide for the first time, a lady who dominated the courts through the early 90s, and won 14 Grand Slam titles along the way, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.
“Finally, I’m thrilled to announce that Thanasi Kokkinakis will include Adelaide as part of his 2016 Australian Open preparation. Thanasi is undoubtedly one of the hottest players on the international circuit – his talent is immensely respected by his peers and he is a huge crowd favourite thanks to his dynamic on court playing style. I have no doubt that Adelaideans will welcome Thanasi with open arms and look forward to seeing him take to the court in his home town,” he said.
The 2016 World Tennis Challenge 2016 players in alphabetical order:
Marion Bartoli (FRA)
Marin Cilic (CRO)
Goran Ivanisevic (CRO)
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)
Iva Majoli (CRO)
Mark Philippoussis (AUS)
Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (ESP)
Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
Mats Wilander (SWE)
The 2016 event will, for the second time in its eight year history, be an official event of Tennis Australia’s Emirates Australian Open Series which brings about a host of both up front and behind the scenes benefits.
“Tennis Australia’s support is invaluable, their shared resources and experience will enable us to present a bigger and better event in 2016. We have a fantastic line up of players, a new broadcast team and a host of administrative and operational opportunities available from Tennis Australia that will continue to enable us to take the World Tennis Challenge to new heights,” said Chief Executive Officer and World Tennis Challenge Event Director, Steven Baldas.
The World Tennis Challenge is supported by the State Government of South Australia through Events South Australia.
Acting Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said the event attracted outstanding international talent to Adelaide.
“The State Government has supported the World Tennis Challenge since it began in 2009. Not only does the event bring thousands of visitors to the city, it also injects more than $4 million into the visitor economy each year,” Minister Bettison said.
“I encourage both locals and visitors to come along and be entertained by some of the biggest names in world tennis, including South Australia’s very own Thanasi Kokkinakis.”
Tickets to the World Tennis Challenge are on sale now from Ticketek at www.ticketek.com.au and start from just $10.
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