Top Ranked American Enters Farmers Classic

Written by: Staff on 10th June 2011

Top Ranked American Enters Farmers Classic

epa02752565 Mardy Fish of the US returns to Robin Haase of the Netherlands during their second round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 26 May 2011. EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO |

LOS ANGELES – The top-ranked American on the ATP World Tour, Mardy Fish, has committed to the 2011 Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, joining two-time defending champion Sam Querrey and 2008 champion Juan Martin del Potro in the field.

The 2011 tournament will begin on July 25 with super sessions beginning at 2 p.m. through July 27. It will continue with two sessions per day July 28-30 before the championship matches Sunday, July 31. Once again the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the campus of UCLA will host the 85th annual event.

“Mardy’s enjoying a great resurgence in his career, and we are going to enjoy having him back at Farmers Classic,” said Tournament Director Bob Kramer. “We’re less than two short months away from the tournament, and to have commitments from a Top 10 star and two former champions is fantastic. These early player commitments combined with the ongoing support of our great sponsor partners, promises an outstanding event this July.”

Fish comes out of the recently concluded French Open with a career high ranking of No. 9. In April, Fish moved ahead of Andy Roddick become the top-ranked American player. In 2010, Fish reached four finals, winning two titles. In 2011, he is 18-11, with three semifinals.

Fish is 7-4 in his career in Los Angeles, having reached the semifinals in 2008 and the quarterfinals on two other occasions.

Joining Fish will be the champions from the last three years in Querrey, who is a two-time defending champion, and del Potro.

Last year, Querrey defeated Andy Murray for the title in a battle of the tournament’s top two seeds. He is one of just six players to have ever defended their title in the 84-year history of the tournament, and is looking to join Hall of Famers Fred Perry (1932-34) and Don Budge (1935-37) as the only players to three-peat.

del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, defeated Roddick to claim the 2008 LA title. He’s won two titles in 2011, bringing his career total to nine. del Potro has been ranked as high as No. 4 on the ATP World Tour during his career.

Once again the Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, will benefit the Southern California Tennis Association. In 2010, the tournament and associated special events raised more than $500,000 for the SCTA and other charities.

Season tickets and mini-plan tickets for the 85th annual Farmers Classic presented by Mercedes-Benz are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.FarmersClassic.com/Tickets or call (310) 824 -1010 ext. 251.