ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR KNOKKE – XAVIER MALISSE BEATS FOUR-TIME CHAMP GORAN IVANISEVIC ON DEBUT

Written by: Staff on 14th August 2014

Xavier Malisse of Belgium and Andy Roddick of the US

ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR KNOKKE - XAVIER MALISSE BEATS FOUR-TIME CHAMP GORAN IVANISEVIC ON DEBUT

epa03117405 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 |

ATP Champions Tour Knokke – Malisse Beats Four-Time Champ Ivanisevic on Debut

OPTIMA OPEN

ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR

14-17 AUGUST, 2014

KNOKKE, BELGIUM

XAVIER MALISSE BEATS FOUR-TIME CHAMPION IVANISEVIC ON DEBUT

Xavier Malisse and Fabrice Santoro got off to winning starts on the opening day of the Optima Open in Knokke Heist, each recording victories over Goran Ivanisevic and Greg Rusedski respectively.

Malisse and Ivanisevic were the first to take to the court at the Royal Zoute Tennis Club. While Ivanisevic was the playmaker for the majority of the match, he couldn’t keep pace with Malisse’s consistent baseline game, and the Belgian emerged a relatively easy 6-3, 6-3 victor.

“I’m really pleased with how I played today on my debut at this event,” said Malisse. “I have been practising for a while to prepare for this tournament but even so I am surprised with how well I played today against Goran. Don’t worry, I have no plans for a comeback to the main tour though!”

Three-time Optima Open Champion Ivanisevic is aiming this week to be the first player to win four titles at the same event since John McEnroe achieved that feat at the Statoil Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall in 2003. The Croat will need to win his remaining group stage match against Pat Cash to stand a chance of qualifying for Sunday’s final.

“Pat is a Grandpa, so I’ve got to have a better chance against him than against Malisse who is only 34!’ said Ivanisevic. ‘I did not serve very well today and Xavier played too good. He deserves the victory today in front of his home fans.’

Last to take to the Centre Court on Thursday were Santoro and Rusedski, who have shared thrilling encounters during their Champions Tour careers to-date. Today was a different story. Not even the booming Rusedski serve could penetrate The Little Magician’s impressive all-court game, and Santoro required little more than an hour to win 6-3, 6-2.

‘I am so so happy just to be here at this event, so to play that well too is just a dream for me,’ said Santoro. ‘I have been wanting to play at this tournament for so many years and now I’m finally here it’s even better than I expected. I can’t wait to be back on the court again tomorrow.’

Friday’s action will include an all-French showdown between Leconte and Santoro as well as 2010 finalist Pat Cash taking on Xavier Malisse.

To view the full draws and order of play in Knokke-Heist, visit: http://www.atpchampionstour.com/results/results.aspx

Official Optima Open website: http://www.optimaopen.be

ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Video – What makes John McEnroe tick? – http://goo.gl/DZTkEf

Video – Watch Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic watch THAT Wimbledon semifinal … together -http://goo.gl/11ti2g

Video – Facing Federer: Mark Philippoussis remembers his 2003 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer – http://goo.gl/vpo60h

Video – What’s in your bag? Tim Henman rummages through the belongings of one of his fellow ATP Champions Tour stars. But whose bag is it? – http://goo.gl/u8al7C

For other video content from the ATP Champion Tour, click here: http://www.atpchampionstour.com/multimedia/video-landing.aspx

Topics: ATP Champions Tour, Goran Ivanisevic, Greg Rusedski, Tennis, Tennis News, Xavier Malisse

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10sBalls_com says:

August 14, 2014 at 10:06 pm

#ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR #KNOKKE – XAVIER MALISSE BEATS FOUR-TIME CHAMP @OfficialGoran ON DEBUT- http://t.co/PuRuaG5uNR @xmalissesite #tennis
kelseymalisse1 says:

August 14, 2014 at 10:15 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: #ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR #KNOKKE – XAVIER MALISSE BEATS FOUR-TIME CHAMP @OfficialGoran ON DEBUT- http://t.co/PuRuaG5uNR @xmali…
xmalissesite says:

August 15, 2014 at 12:53 am

RT @10sBalls_com: #ATP CHAMPIONS TOUR #KNOKKE – XAVIER MALISSE BEATS FOUR-TIME CHAMP @OfficialGoran ON DEBUT- http://t.co/PuRuaG5uNR @xmali…