The third year of the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, continues to step up to the line and Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil, 24 September to 2 October, 2011, is going to produce some excellent tennis.
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| Melzer |
Tournament Director Nick Freyer today announced that Austrian Jurgen Melzer and Serbs Viktor Troicki and Janko Tipsarevic will join sensational Aussie teenager Bernard Tomic as part of the line-up of players.
“Fans of the tournament have been asking for fresh stars to get to know for the third edition of the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, and we continue to work hard in being able to deliver on this, but at the same time accommodating many old friends, who wanted to return for a second or third year,” Freyer said.
“I am really delighted that Jurgen Melzer, Viktor Troicki and Janko Tipsarevic will be making their debuts in Malaysia. With their strong rankings and with one being a Wimbledon Champion and the other two Davis Cup heroes for Serbia, we are excited to be able to welcome them, and look forward to introducing them to Malaysian fans.”
Melzer can lay claim to something not even Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer have achieved. He is the only player in men’s tennis this year to have captured titles at Wimbledon the last two years. In 2010 he teamed with German Philipp Petzschner to win the Gentlemen’s Doubles and this year claimed the Mixed Doubles with Iveta Benesova.
The 30 year old left-hander is ranked 18 in the world this week, ten places off his career ranking of #8 from four months ago. He has won three career titles and was a finalist seven other times. In 2011 he reached the last 16 at the Australian Open was a quarterfinalist three times (most recently last week in Hamburg) and a semi-finalist one other time.
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| Tipsarevic |
“I have played throughout Asia but have never taken the opportunity to visit Kuala Lumpur before now and I am really looking forward to it,” Melzer said. “Other players have told me the hospitality and hotel is great and the people and fans there are very enthusiastic and welcoming. I think it will be great to visit a new country and city so, yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”
Troicki and Tipsarevic have been producing their best tennis over the last year, which was most definitely highlighted by the incredible run Serbia had in the 2010 Davis Cup, which lead to them winning the coveted Championship for the very first time. Both players make it clear that the Davis Cup victory has given them even more confidence on court.
Troicki, 25, reached a career high ranking of 12 this year and is currently #15. He has one career title and has reached three other finals including Sydney this year. Also in 2011 he made the last 16 at the French Open, was a semi-finalist once and a quarter-finalist three other times.
Meanwhile, Tipsarevic who is seen as a bit of a philosopher on the Tour is quite a character with his tattoos and the wrap-around glare glasses he wears when he plays. The 27 year old is enjoying a career high ranking of 23 and has won two titles this year, Delray Beach on hard court and Eastbourne on grass. He has also twice been a semi-finalist in 2011.
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| Troicki |
Tickets for the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur have been selling at an outstanding rate; in fact ticket sales have been moving at their fastest pace in the tournament’s three-year history.
“The new ticketing structure that makes the tournament accessible to everyone has caught on superbly and the way things are going I envisage a fantastic atmosphere at Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil,” Freyer said.
A concept started in the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur’s first year has become a tradition and will happen again in 2011; the tournament will give a main draw doubles wild card to a local player who will team up with one of the international marquee players.
“You can’t buy experience like that,” Freyer added. “We’ll keep it a surprise till closer the time as to whom the two players will be but I am sure the fans will really enjoy that match.”
The Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur, a founding sponsor of the tournament, will continue to be the Official Hotel of the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur. The hotel remains a player favorite on the ATP World Tour.
For more information and updates on the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2011, please log on to www.MalaysianOpenTennis.com
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