News
Super Tuesday Thrills Record Opening Crowd
The World Tennis Challenge (WTC) opening night suitably named “Super Tuesday” was exactly that, a sensational evening that drew a record opening night crowd.
The stands at Memorial Drive were full, alive and buzzing as the star studded men’s singles players displayed an entertaining evening filled with exceptional tennis and entertainment.
The draw kicked off with the current men’s singles champions taking to the courts with Radek Stepanek (13) defeating Gilles Simon(15) in 7-6 (4), 6-0 on court one and seventeen year old Australian tennis sensation Bernard Tomic (291)wowing crowds by defeating twenty-seven year old Robby Ginepri (96) on court two 7-6 (4 ) 6-4.
As the men’s champions retreated to the sidelines to watch the legends take centre stage all eyes were back on court one when Pat Cash took to the court defeating world famous John McEnroe 8-6 in an entertaining battle. One could not overlook the ever charismatic dual Frenchman Henri Leconte and Mansour Bahrami who stole the hearts of the crowd with the amazingly entertaining spectacle consisting of endless tricks and role playing, with mimicking one another, Bahrami serving with six balls in one hand, catching tennis balls in pockets and general witty banter between the pair it was undoubtable a barrel of laughs for all with Leconte defeating Bahrami 8-5.
High profile guests included Minister Jane Lomax-Smith, former Tennis Australia CEO Paul McNamee, South Australian Tourism Commission Board member Robert Foorde and many more!
Off court entertainment saw guests invited to The Advertiser Autograph Island from 5.45pm – 6.15pm to seize an autograph from John McEnroe. – with McEnroe last playing visit to Australia being over 20 years ago it was undoubtable a marvellous opportunity for South Australians to take home a piece of history.
Results - Tuesday 12 Jan
Men’s Singles (Current)
Stepanek def. Simon 7-6 (4), 6-0
Tomic def. Ginepri 7-6 (4) 6-4
Men’s Singles (Legends)
Leconte def. Bahrami 8-5
Cash def. McEnroe 8-6
Men’s doubles
Stepanek/Bahrami (International) def. Simon/Leconte (Europe) 7-5
Ginepri & McEnroe (Americas) def. Tomic & Cash (Australia) 6-7 (5)
