SAN JOSE, Calif. – The SAP Open, the premier men’s professional tennis tournament in Northern California, announced today that 2002 SAP Open Singles Champion and two-time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) and 2010 Men’s Junior U.S. Open Champion Jack Sock (USA) have accepted wildcards into the 2012 SAP Open singles field of players.
Hewitt and Sock will join defending SAP Open singles champion, SAP Ambassador, and Canada’s #1 player Milos Raonic (CAN), three-time SAP Open singles champion and SAP Ambassador Andy Roddick (USA), world’s #10-ranked Gael Monfils (FRA) and SAP Open fan-favorites James Blake (USA) and Sam Querrey (USA) at the 2012 SAP Open to be played February 13 – 19 at HP Pavilion at San Jose. Tennis legend John McEnroe (USA) will headline a doubles exhibition match on Monday, February 13 at 7 p.m. All players are subject to change.
In addition, the SAP Open announced that the singles field of players will now feature 28 players in the main draw. By reducing the singles field from 32, the top-four seeds will receive a first-round bye and will automatically advance into the second round of tournament play. The order of play for evening sessions from Monday, February 13 – Thursday, February, 16 is as follows:
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13 – 7 P.M.
Doubles Exhibition – featuring John McEnroe (USA) & Milos Raonic (CAN) vs. Gael Monfils (FRA) & James Blake (USA) followed by a Featured Main Draw Match
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 – 7 P.M.
James Blake (USA) (1st Round Singles) followed by Sam Querrey (USA) (1st Round Singles)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 – 7 P.M.
Andy Roddick (USA) (2nd Round Singles) followed by Milos Raonic (CAN) (2nd Round Singles)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 – 7 P.M.
Gael Monfils (FRA) (2nd Round Singles), followed by Featured Main Draw Match
The 2012 SAP Open will be played February 13-19 at HP Pavilion at San Jose. Ticket packages and group tickets are on-sale now and are available by calling (408) ACE-2121. Individual session tickets will go on sale Friday, December 2, 2011. Additional information about the SAP Open can be found on the tournament website at www.sapopentennis.com.
Returning to the SAP Open for the sixth time in his career is former SAP Open Singles Champion (2002) and former world’s #1 Lleyton Hewitt. In his singles career, Hewitt has amassed more than 550 victories and 28 singles titles including the U.S. Open title in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002. He has earned more than $19 million in prize money in his career. The Adelaide, Australia native appeared at the SAP Open in 2011 where he reached the quarterfinals before losing to former U.S. Open Champion Juan Martin del Potro (ARG).
Entering the SAP Open for the first time in his career is 19 year-old Jack Sock. Sock, who was born in Lincoln, Nebraska but now resides in Overland Park, Kansas, Graduated from Blue Valley North High School in May 2011. In his high school career, Sock compiled an unblemished 80-0 record capturing four consecutive state championships. On the junior circuit, Sock captured 18 USTA National titles and won the
2010 USTA Boys’ 18’s Nationals and the 2010 U.S. Open junior title. Most recently, the 6’, 1” 180-pound Sock teamed with fellow American Melanie Oudin at the 2011 U.S. Open to capture the 2011 Mixed Doubles title.