ATP TENNIS CHAMPIONS TOUR FROM KNOKKE – XAVIER MALISSE ON FORM IN OPENER; BACKS BELGIUM TO REACH DAVIS CUP FINAL & PETE SAMPRAS IS PLAYING TOO

Written by: Staff on 14th August 2015

ATP TENNIS CHAMPIONS TOUR FROM KNOKKE - XAVIER MALISSE ON FORM IN OPENER; BACKS BELGIUM TO REACH DAVIS CUP FINAL & PETE SAMPRAS IS PLAYING TOO

Xavier Malisse of Belgium hits a return shot to Andy Roddick of the US during their first round match in the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 22 February 2012. EPA/TANNEN MAURY |

OPTIMA OPEN

ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR

14-16 AUGUST, 2015

KNOKKE, BELGIUM

MALISSE ON FORM IN OPENER; BACKS BELGIUM TO REACH DAVIS CUP FINAL

Xavier Malisse made a successful start to the defence of his Optima Open title as the Belgian beat Thomas Enqvist in straight sets on the opening day at the Royal Zoute Tennis Club in Knokke-Heist.

The 2002 Wimbledon semi-finalist was in fine form in front of his home crowd as he beat Enqvist 6-4, 7-6(5) in the first match of the tournament.

Malisse represented Belgium in 15 Davis Cup ties and has been a keen follower of his nation’s progress in the competition to the semi-finals this year. Next month, Belgium face Argentina in Brussels and Malisse feels they have never had a better chance to reach the final.

Malisse said: “I think luck is on their side a little bit because Argentina have injuries. It’s always tough, but it’s better than playing against Juan Monaco and Juan Martin Del Potro.

“Belgium have a good chance. They play at home, so they can choose the surface. David Goffin is playing good and solid, and Steve Darcis too. Hopefully they can make it. This is probably the best chance they will ever have to get to the final.”

Enqvist will have the opportunity to make up for his opening-day defeat when he takes on 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras in Saturday’s first match. Enqvist beat Sampras twice in their 11 meetings on tour and the Swede is looking forward to taking on the American once again.

Enqvist said: “When I played, he was our Roger Federer. He was the one who was dominating the game and he finished six years in a row as world No. 1. Obviously he was the best player at that time. It was an honour to play him then and it is an honour to have the chance to play him now. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

In a match which was shortened to one set due to a lengthy rain delay, former world No. 1 Thomas Muster beat Henri Leconte 6-4. Muster, 47, will likely face a tougher challenge on Saturday when he takes on Malisse, who is 12 years younger.

Muster said: “He’s a very good player. He just stopped playing on the tour a couple of years ago. It’s going to be very hard, but I hope it’s going to be a good match.”

A highly-entertaining mixed doubles encounter was won by Mansour Bahrami and Dominique Monami, who beat Yannick Noah and Sabine Appelmans 7-4.

Noah and Bahrami will team up together on Saturday for the doubles against Leconte and Pat Cash. The match will take place in between the two singles matches.

After the Optima Open, the ATP Champions Tour moves on to Mallorca (Spain), Seoul (South Korea), Monterrey (Mexico), Verona and Modena (Italy), before arriving in London (England) in December.

Order of Play: http://goo.gl/cxjXF3

Tour website: http://goo.gl/97fsq9

Twitter: http://goo.gl/3nnKs1

Facebook: http://goo.gl/Tecf2p

Calendar: http://goo.gl/luFBBJ

Optima Open website: http://goo.gl/WEXbh6

Editors Note :

10sBalls_com applauds the great Malisse. Xavier is a great friend to Lovey and Pancho and the rest of the hardworking team of writers and reporters worldwide that cover tennis for us.

We were last with him at the magnificent Hurlingham Club at a “warm up” grass event prior to Wimbledon.

We thank David Law for all the great coverage he does for these great Legend events and players. David is s great “friend” to tennis.

Also we find it interesting that the “X- Man” sees Thie upcoming Davis Cup tie as one Belgium can win to get to the finals.

Photo by Lovey.

Topics: 10sballs.com, ATP Champions Tour, Knokke, Optima Open, Sports, Tennis News, Xavier Malisse

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10sBalls_com says:

August 14, 2015 at 7:10 pm

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dusanVemic says:

August 14, 2015 at 7:10 pm

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