TENNIS FROM ROYAL ALBERT HALL: GREG RUSEDSKI, XAVIER MALISSE, GUY FORGET, FABRICE SANTORO & MIKAEL PERNFORS TO COMPLETE – BUY TICKETS

Written by: Staff on 1st November 2016

TENNIS FROM ROYAL ALBERT HALL: GREG RUSEDSKI, XAVIER MALISSE, GUY FORGET, FABRICE SANTORO & MIKAEL PERNFORS TO COMPLETE - BUY TICKETS

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 04: Greg Rusedski of Great Britain serves during his group match against Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia on day one of the Statoil Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall on December 4, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) |

GREG RUSEDSKI, XAVIER MALISSE, GUY FORGET, FABRICE SANTORO AND MIKAEL PERNFORS COMPLETE CHAMPIONS TENNIS AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL LINE-UP

30th November – 4th December 2016

London, 27th October 2016: IMG, a global leader in sports, fashion and media, are thrilled to announce that former British Number 1 Greg Rusedski, former doubles Grand Slam Champion Xavier Malisse, former World No.4 Guy Forget, former Grand Slam finalist Mikael Pernfors and Fabrice Santoro will complete the line-up of this year’s Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall. This year the tournament, taking place between 30th November and 4th December 2016 at the Royal Albert Hall, one of the UK’s most celebrated entertainment venues, will celebrate its 20th Anniversary.

The players will join former World No.1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe, former World No.1 and two-time US Open champion Pat Rafter, former British No.1 Tim Henman, former World No.1 and Roland Garros Champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, as well as Younes El Aynaoui and the jester of the court, Mansour Bahrami.

Retiring from tennis in 2007, Greg Rusedski is a former British number 1, and reached a career high ATP ranking of World No.4. Within this time he reached the singles final of the US Open in 1997, and that year won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. In addition to these achievements, Rusedski is possibly best known for, at one time, holding the record for the fastest serve ever recorded, at 149mph.

Rusedski will be renewing his rivalry with two-time US Open champion, Pat Rafter, who he lost to in the 1997 US Open final, who is also returning to this year’s stellar line up.

Xavier Malisse is one of only two Belgian players to have ranked inside the top 20 of the ATP Tour, and was the winner of the men’s doubles final at Roland Garros in 2004, playing alongside compatriot Oliver Rochus. The pair defeated Fabrice Santoro, who will also be playing in this year’s Champions Tennis. Malisse has historically performed well on British soil, reaching the semi-finals of the 2002 Wimbledon Championships. He beat Greg Rusedski in the fourth round of that year’s Wimbledon.

During his career Guy Forget was a serve and volley specialist, and reached a career-high World No. 4. He helped France win Davis Cup titles in 1991 and 1996 and he won 11 singles titles from 19 finals. Forget reached the doubles final of Roland Garros in 1987 and 1996, partnering with Yannick Noah and Jakob Hlaseck respectively.

Mikael Pernfors reached the men’s singles final of Roland Garros in 1986, defeating Mats Wilander and home favourite Henri Leconte in successive rounds, losing only to then World number 1 Ivan Lendl. Pernfors historically beat Andre Agassi in his first top-level singles title in 1988.

Santoro holds several ATP records, including the most appearances in singles competition at Grand Slam events (70) and the greatest amount of career wins over top ten opponents. Santoro achieved success as a singles player, earning six titles, but arguably had even greater success in doubles competitions, with two Grand Slam doubles titles (Australian Open 2003 and 2004), and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title (Roland Garros 2005).

Greg Rusedski said:

“I am very excited to compete at this year’s Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall. It is always great to play to a home crowd in such a special and iconic venue. I’m also really looking forward to playing alongside some of the sporting legends who I have had the privilege to play against in my career including Tim Henman and Pat Rafter.”

Greg Rusedski of Great Britain serves during his group match against Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia on day one of the Statoil Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall on December 4, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Owned and managed by IMG, Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall is the season ending finale to the ATP Champions Tour. Guests are treated to seeing the greatest players on the grandest stage, with former Grand Slam Champions, World No.1’s and national icons all taking to the court. In its 20 year history, Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall has featured many of tennis’ greatest stars, including Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Tim Henman, Goran Ivanisevic, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker and Andy Roddick and special appearances from Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Sir Elton John, Billie Jean King, HRH Duke of Cambridge and many more.

The final few tickets are available via the website www.championstennis.co.uk/tickets/ or by calling the box office on 020 7070 4404. Prices start from £18.50 plus booking fees. Hospitality packages are also available from £299 per person (excluding VAT); more information can be found at www.championstennis.co.uk/hospitallity.

Listings:

Event: Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall

Location: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP

Dates: Wednesday 30th November – Sunday 4th December 2016

Hospitality Packages: Available from £299 per person (excluding VAT)

Tickets: Standard (from £18.50), Premium (from £69.50), VIP (from £199)

Booking information: 020 8233 5838 / championstennis@img.com

Website: www.championstennis.co.uk

Facebook: @officialchampionstennis

Twitter: @championstennis

Instagram: @champions_tennis

Topics: 10sballs.com, Champions Tennis, Fabrice Santoro, Greg Rusedski, Guy Forget, John Mcenroe, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Mansour Bahrami, Mikael Pernfors, Pat Rafter, Royal Albert Hall, Sports, Tennis News, Tim Henman, Xavier Malisse, Younes El Aynaoui