Eltingh/Haarhuis make a comeback for charity

Written by: Staff on 28th January 2011

Eltingh/Haarhuis make a comeback for charity

Jaco Eltingh, Paul Haarhuis, Mikael Pernfors and Mansour Bahrami talk with ITF President, Francesco Ricci Bitti |

The best Dutch doubles team of all times, Jacco Eltingh and Paul Haarhuis, returns to the ATP World Tour. The former winners of 39 doubles tournaments, including all Grand Slams, will make a unique return in favor of charity during the 38th ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. This tournament will be played from 7 until 13 February 2011 in Ahoy Rotterdam.

The idea for this one-off comeback was born during a recent trip of the Dutch ‘Golden Generation’ to Surinam. Richard Krajicek, Jan Siemerink, Jacco Eltingh and Paul Haarhuis opened the First Playground of the Richard Krajicek Foundation outside The Netherlands in the presence of former national coach Stanley Franker.

Paul Haarhuis: “During the trip to Surinam we wondered about the level Jacco and I would still be able to reach. Where we are right now? No idea. The players of today are of course more in shape and have been playing a lot more than us over the last years. But the idea of playing them still thrills me after all these years. Thanks to the encouragement of Richard, who stimulated us to join the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, we have decided to face this challenge. And like in the old days, we will prepare ourselves well.”

Eltingh and Haarhuis will participate in the Australian Open “Legends Doubles” prior to the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. This period will not only allow them to get used to playing together again, but will also serve as an intensive training.

Jacco Eltingh: “This is so much fun. And I never thought that I would be so thrilled just by the idea of playing on the highest level once more. And if we ever wanted to do this, Paul and I couldn’t wait any longer, because we are not getting any younger.’

Tournament Director Richard Krajicek: “We talked it over in Surinam and I promised them a wild card if they decided to play. I told them: if you decide a one-off comeback, please do so during the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. That they both have decided to donate their prize money to a new playground for my foundation, obviously makes me very proud. If the doubles draw gives us the possibility, we want to give them the stage they deserve on Monday evening as the opening match.”

Topics: Jacco Eltingh, Paul Haarhuis