Legends Field for Australian Open 2014

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 8th January 2014

Legends Field for Australian Open 2014

epa01635440 French former tennis star and singer Yannick Noah at the 'Fete Le Mur' association exhibition during the semi finals match of the Gaz de France WTA Open 2009 tournament in Paris, France, 14 February 2009. This association, presided by Noah, enables young people in disadvantaged neighbourhoods to play tennis, allowing the keenest among them to join clubs that are affiliated members of the French Tennis Federation. EPA/HORACIO VILLALOBOS |

Sixteen former top 10 players, including four former world No. 1s, will return to the court this January to contest the annual Australian Open legends event.

Commencing on Sunday 19 January, the 16-strong men’s field features former world No. 1 and three-time Australian Open singles champion Mats Wilander, and former top five players including 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, French Open champion–come-music star Yannick Noah, crowd favorite Frenchman Henri Leconte, three time Australian Open doubles champion Jonas Bjorkman, Cedric Pioline, Guy Forget and Thomas Enqvist.

Aussie favorites Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge, one of the greatest doubles teams of all time, will fly the flag for Australia alongside 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash .

In the women’s draw, three former world No.1 players – 18-time Grand Slam winner Martina Navratilova, youngest-ever US Open winner Tracy Austin and three-time Australian Open champion Martina Hingis will join 1997 French Open champion Iva Majoli, Barbara Schett and Australians Nicole Bradtke and Rennae Stubbs.

Legends Tournament Director Todd Woodbridge said that crowds should expect some very exciting and entertaining tennis.

“The legends event has become a favorite at the Australian Open and fans really enjoy the chance to welcome some of the greats of the game back onto the court,” he said.

“Many of the Legends players, like Henri Leconte and Pat Cash, are renowned for putting on a great show, and I suspect newcomer Yannick Noah, now a popular music performer in France, will bring his showmanship to the court. In the women’s we have three former world No.1s, and some tough rivalries. This is a field of champions and although they’re all here to have fun, they’re still super competitive, they want to win!”

Legends Field for Australian Open 2014

Men

Mats Wilander

Fabrice Santoro

Pat Cash

Goran Ivanisevic

Thomas Enqvist

Henri Leconte

Todd Woodbridge

Jonas Bjorkman

Wayne Ferreira

Mansour Bahrami