Blake, Groth and Becker Headline Main Draw Field at the 2012 Tiburon Challenger

Written by: Staff on 21st September 2012

Blake, Groth and Becker Headline Main Draw Field at the 2012 Tiburon Challenger

epa03376298 James Blake of the US hits a return to Marcel Granollers of Spain during their match on the fourth day of the 2012 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 30 August 2012. The US Open runs through Sunday 09 September 2012. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH |

James Blake (ATP #4 in 2006), Samuel Groth, and Benjamin Becker (ATP #83) are three of the headlining competitors for the 2012 USTA Pro-Circuit First Republic Bank Tiburon Challenger, October 6-14.

“It’s another great entry list which should provide for a fantastic tournament. We were hoping for and received a strong entry from our American players. ” says Scott Potthast, Tiburon Challenger Tournament Director. This is the 6^th year that the Tiburon Peninsula Club has hosted the USTA Pro-Circuit Tiburon Challenger with the field featuring 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams from around the globe. “Watching veterans like James Blake and Michael Russell play alongside the up and comers like Jack Sock and Steve Johnson will be a lot of fun!”

Blake, a Harvard graduate and New York Times best-selling author, began playing tennis at age 5. Though diagnosed with severe scoliosis at age 13, requiring him to wear a back brace for up to 18 hours a day, he surpassed the odds, reaching #4 in the world in 2006, with prize money totaling $7.6 Million to date.

Benjamin Becker (ATP #83) of Germany began playing tennis when he was 7 and idolized former #1 Boris Becker (also German, no relation) and Andre Agassi growing up. In 2006, Benjamin played and defeated Agassi at the US Open in the final match of Agassi’s career. Becker considers his forehand and serve the most important aspects of his game.

But when it comes to a serve, no one has more game than Samuel Groth right now. At 24, he holds the world record for the fastest at 163.4 mph, which he achieved at the Busan Challenger earlier this year. His serve puts Ivo Karlovic’s record of 156 mph in the number 2 spot and may even be something of an omen for Groth at Tiburon (Karlovic won the 2011 Tiburon Challenger as the then world record holder).

Tickets to the $100,000 First Republic Bank Tiburon Challenger can be purchased online at http://tiburonchallenger.com/tickets/. Single day, weekend daily and weekend 2-day passes are available. Admission is free October 6-7.

Live updates throughout the Tiburon Challenger tournament will be posted at http://tiburonchallenger.com/, Facebook & Twitter. Center Court matches will be live streamed in 2012 – links to the live stream will be available on the tournament website and the USTA Pro Circuit website.

Topics: 2012 USTA Pro-Circuit First Republic Bank Tiburon Challenger, American tennis news, Benjamin Becker, James Blake, Samuel Groth