NEW YORK, N.Y., Dec. 18, 2009 – Debuts by Andre Agassi and Patrick Rafter, the consistent performances of Jim Courier, and titles won by Pete Sampras and John McEnroe highlighted play on the 2009 Outback Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.
The Outback Champions Series completed its fourth full season this fall and Courier emerged as the year-end No. 1 player, finishing with 3,000 ranking points, 900 better than second-place finisher Sampras. Courier won two tournament titles and reached the final at two other events during the seven-tournament schedule. He won the singles title at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships in the Cayman Islands in April, defeating Jimmy Arias 6-3, 6-2 in the final. He also claimed the title at the Breezeplay Championships at the Palisades in Charlotte, N.C. in September, defeating Sampras 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 (Champions tie-breaker) in the final in the only head-to-head meeting between the top two players in 2009. The victory also was Courier’s first over Sampras since the first round of the 1997 Italian Open in Rome and his first on a hard court over the 14-time major singles champion since the quarterfinals of the 1991 US Open. Courier posted runner-up
showings in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in March, falling to McEnroe 6-2, 6-3, and in Newport, R.I. in August, losing to Pat Cash 6-3, 6-4. The Outback Champions Series Rankings are based on a players best five results during the year.
Sampras claimed two titles in 2009, defeating McEnroe 7-6 (10), 6-4 in the final of the Champions Cup Boston in February, and beating debutant Rafter 7-6 (6), 6-4 in the final of the Del Mar Development Champions Cup in Los Cabos, Mexico.
Agassi made his Series debut in Surprise, Ariz., in October, reaching the final before losing to Todd Martin 6-3, 7-5. Agassi and Rafter join Sampras, McEnroe, Courier, Stefan Edberg, Mats Wilander and Thomas Muster as the eight former world No. 1 players to play on the Outback Champions Series since the first event in 2005.
“I really enjoyed being here this week, with a lot of peers and familiar faces and the crowds were great,” said Agassi after losing to Martin in Arizona. “Three days in a row is a lot of tennis for me now. Hopefully I can improve next time.”
En route to the final, Agassi defeated Mikael Pernfors of Sweden 6-2, 7-5 in the quarterfinals and Wayne Ferreira of South Africa 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals. Said Agassi of his experience in Surprise, “This week exceeded my expectations. It was a lot of fun. This is a competitive tour and these guys take care of themselves. Youve got to come ready to play.
Another highlight of the year included McEnroe, weeks after turning 50 years old, winning his third career Outback Champions Series title in Rio de Janiero, defeating Courier 6-2, 6-3 in the final. Just one day before turning 50, McEnroe gave Sampras a run in the final of the Champions Cup Boston on February 15.
They talk about the age, but nowadays in the U.S., 50 is the new 40, said McEnroe of his half-century status after beating Courier in the Rio final. We find ways to be in better physical shape and I was feeling good today. I saw the other guys who are younger and how they were with their backs, calves, knees hurt and here I am, happy that I am standing. I know that if I were doing what I was doing today, when I was playing the pro tour, being serious about my physical conditioning, I could have won many more titles in my career.
Said Courier of McEnroe, 12 years his senior, The tennis ball doesnt see the age. Its zen. I dont think I have ever seen anyone over 50 play like John.
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Each Outback Champions Series event features $150,000 in prize money with the tournament champion earning $60,000 and ranking points that determine the year-end No. 1. Each tournament champion earns 800 ranking points.
The final 2009 Outback Champions Series rankings are as follows
1) Jim Courier (3000 points)
2) Pete Sampras (2100 points)
3) Todd Martin (2000 points)
4) Pat Cash (1800 points)
5) Jimmy Arias (1450 points)
6) John McEnroe (1300 points)
7) Mark Philippoussis (1100 points)
7) Mikael Pernfors (900 points)
9) Mats Wilander (700 points)
9) Wayne Ferreira (700 points)
11) Aaron Krickstein (600 points)
12) Andre Agassi (500 points)
12) Patrick Rafter (500 points)
13) Karel Novacek (200 points)
InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including “Legendary Night” exhibitions, charity events, corporate outings and tennis fantasy camps such as the annual “Ultimate Fantasy Camp”. Through 2008, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment events have raised over $4 million for charity. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.
