RODDICK RETURNS TO AAMI CLASSIC
Former world no. 1, American ANDY RODDICK (ranked 15) will make a welcome return
to the 2012 AAMI Classic at Kooyong, January 11-14.
The "A-Rod" from Austin, Texas, has won the event three times. He started the year
well by winning the Memphis tournament in February, but has since been hampered by
injuries. He rocketed back into form by reaching the semis in Winston Salem and then
last month the quarter-finals of the US Open in New York.
Tournament Director, Colin Stubs, felt the time was right to ask the question again: "I
had a gut feel this year that Andy might be ready to return. That was...
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RODDICK RETURNS TO AAMI CLASSIC
Former world no. 1, American ANDY RODDICK (ranked 15) will make a welcome return
to the 2012 AAMI Classic at Kooyong, January 11-14.
The "A-Rod" from Austin, Texas, has won the event three times. He started the year
well by winning the Memphis tournament in February, but has since been hampered by
injuries. He rocketed back into form by reaching the semis in Winston Salem and then
last month the quarter-finals of the US Open in New York.
Tournament Director, Colin Stubs, felt the time was right to ask the question again: "I
had a gut feel this year that Andy might be ready to return. That was vindicated when
I picked up the phone to his manager recently and received a positive response" he
said.
Czech TOMAS BERDYCH (7), who was part of the 2011 AAMI Classic field, is keen to
return, having just taken out the Beijing tournament last week. Over the past two
years he has worked on his fitness and strength, so is at the stage where he is a
genuine Grand Slam title contender. He reached the Wimbledon final in 2010 and this
year has hovered around the finals on twelve weekends (five semis and seven quarterfinals),
showing consistent form.
Joining Roddick and back for the third time is Frenchman JO-WILFRIED TSONGA,
whose ranking has shot up to 8 after a strong quarter-finals showing at the US Open, a
recent win in Metz (France) and a semi-finals appearance in Beijing. In his most
successful year, he has reached two finals, three semis and two quarter-finals. His
best Grand Slam result was making the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
Compatriot GAEL MONFILS (ranked 10) notches up his second Kooyong visit. Known as
one of the finest athletes on the ATP Tour, "Lamonf" is having his best year on the
circuit, making the final in Washington, semis in San Jose, Halle and Bangkok, plus five
quarter-finals.
Austrian JURGEN MELZER (20) will make his second AAMI Classic appearance. Coached by former Swedish champion, Joakim Nystrom, Melzer has reached one semi-final this year (Monte Carlo Masters) and four quarter-finals.
Highest ranked Australian BERNARD TOMIC (49), who reached the quarter-finals in Tokyo last week and attained the pinnacle of his short career by making the quarterfinals at Wimbledon mid-year, will join the above five players, leaving two spots remaining in the eight man field.
Tournament Director, Colin Stubs, said today: "I am really looking forward to seeing Bernard Tomic play against some of the best and charismatic players in the world.
Demand for the remaining two spots in the field has been high and at this time dialogue is taking place with Andy Murray, Mardy Fish, Gilles Simon, Janko Tipsarevic,
Fernando Verdasco, Alex Dolgopolov, Mikael Youzhny, Milos Raonic and Florian Mayer.
We are pleased by the rock-solid support which has been shown by our corporate supporters and we are determined to produce an ‘up close' and family friendly worldclass sporting and entertainment event in January at Kooyong, the spiritual home of Australian tennis".
A TOMIC COUP
2012 AAMI CLASSIC
Jan. 11-14
Australian tennis "wunderkind" BERNARD TOMIC (ranked 68 and no. 1 Australian), has chosen Kooyong's AAMI Classic as his final 2012 Australian Open preparation.
Tomic defeated NOVAK DJOKOVIC (CRO) at the 2010 event and so began a firm friendship between the two. Djokovic said at the time "he's a very good player, he's got the shots, he's got the weapons, definitely". Those words returned to haunt him at Wimbledon this year, when the young Australian took Djokovic to four sets in the quarter finals. Having qualified for the tournament and gone on to beat Davydenko (RUS), Andreev (RUS), Soderling (SWE) and Malisse (BEL) to reach the quarters,Tomic had finally "arrived", showing the full potential that experts had been expecting from him for some time.
The youngest Grand Slam quarter-finalist since 1986 and youngest ever player to win an Australian Open junior title (2008 at 15) left last week for the US where he will play lead-in events to the US Open later this month.
Tournament Director, Colin Stubs, has had Tomic on the top of his "to get" list since Wimbledon and clinched the deal a few days ago through his agent. "Bernard helped us out a couple of years ago on the final day and we were pleased to be able to showcase his talents to Kooyong fans at the time" Stubs said. "I had a close look at the way he played and was more than impressed. It's great to be able to kick off our 2012 campaign by announcing the participation of Australia's brightest prospect" he added.
Stubs is busy confirming the rest of his field and further announcements are expected soon.
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LLEYTON HEWITT (AUST) is the current AAMI Classic champion, having defeated GAEL MONFILS (FRA) in the 2011 final.
This will be the 24th year of the event, which began in 1988. Leading Australian car and home insurer, AAMI, enters its 8th year of sponsorship, having recently signed on for the 2012 and 2013 events.
The Seven Network will provide approx. 13 hours of live national coverage over the 4 days while IEC in Sport will distribute footage to over 60 international outlets.
Corporate support for the event remains strong, with a high retention rate annually.
Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster (13 6100).
Event partners are as follows:
AUDI; SCHWEPPES; NESTLE PETERS (CONNOISSEUR); DIADORA; NEPENTHE WINES; LANSON CHAMPAGNE; PARK HYATT MELBOURNE; ROWLAND MAJOR EVENTS; COFFEE SUPREME; TICKETMASTER; WILSON; VRC; NGV; TENNIS AUSTRALIA, TENNNIS VICTORIA.
Media partners:
SEVEN NETWORK; 3AW
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