AAMI CLASSIC CLINCHES TOMAS BERDYCH FOR 8TH SPOT

Written by: Staff on 5th January 2013

AAMI CLASSIC CLINCHES TOMAS BERDYCH FOR 8TH SPOT

epa03458995 Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic returns to Andy Murray of Britain during their match the ATP World Tour Finals in London, Britain, 05 November 2012. EPA/KERIM OKTEN |

Czech, TOMAS BERDYCH (ranked 6), has taken eighth spot in the 2013 AAMI Classic field.

The last minute coup by Tournament Director, Colin Stubs, was sealed late yesterday when he received a phone call from a close friend of Berdych’s and the AAMI Classic, IVAN LJUBCIC, who told Stubs that Berdych, having reached the quarter-finals in Chennai, needed more matches. Stubs jumped at the chance to secure the world no. 6 to complete his field.

Berdych is coming off a stellar year, having won tournaments in Montpelier and Stockholm, reaching the finals at Madrid Masters, WTC Dusseldorf and Winston Salem; semis at Monte Carolo,Rotterdam, US Open and Shanghai Masters; quarters at the Australian Open, Dubai, Rome Masters, Halle, Tokyo and Paris Masters.

Berdych joins JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO (7), JANKO TIPSAREVIC (9), JUAN MONACO (12), MILOS RAONIC (13), KEI NISHIKORI (19), MARCOS BAGHDATIS (36) and LLEYTON HEWITT (83), all of whom are expected to attend the PLAYERS’ MEDIA CONFERENCE on Tuesday at Kooyong at 12.15 pm.

Fan Day, in aid of Challenge Cancer, will be held at Kooyong on Tuesday beginning at 11.00 am until 3.00 pm. Celebrities participating include Pat Cash, Andy Lee, Tania Zaetta, Blair McDonough, Tom Wren and X factor runner-up Andrew Wishart, who will open proceedings. Two of Australia’s top juniors, Marc Polmans and Omar Jasika, will play a tie-breaker exhibition set. The catering village on outside courts will host the AAMI inter-active marquee, Tennis Victoria’s inter-active zone, FOX FM street crew, face painters and roving entertainers. The day’s activities will end with a BBQ and entertainment on outside courts by swing band, Orlando Combo.

Day one of the AAMI Classic kicks off on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 11.00 am. Play also starts at 11.00 am on Thursday/Friday with the finals on Saturday beginning at 1.00 pm. Friday is “Kids’ Day” when all children under 16 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult (maximum two children per adult). Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com.au or 13 1600).

Seven Network’s coverage on 7TWO begins on Wednesday at 11.00 am.

Topics: Aami Classic, IVAN LJUBCIC, Janko Tipsarevic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Juan Monaco, Kei Nishikori, Kooyong Classic, milos raonic, Sports, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych